Jess Fox’s cousin, canoe slalom brothers fire at Oceania titles at Penrith

A pair of brothers from Sydney’s west and the son of an Olympian and cousin of a Games gold medallist are out to make a splash in canoe slalom ahead of the Paris Olympics.

A pair of NSW brothers and the cousin of an Olympic champion have turned plenty of heads at the Oceania canoe slalom championships at Penrith.

Brothers Kaylen and Lachlan Bassett finished on the podium behind Victorian Tristan Carter in the open men’s C1 event with Lachlan also securing the under 23 crown.

Young canoe slalom paddler Lachlan Bassett.

The pair, who moved from Melbourne to Penrith in 2019 to train and campaign for the world championships, World Cup events and potentially the Paris Olympics, are just 24 and 22 respectively.

“My main goal in coming here was to make the Paris Olympics, hopefully with my brother,’’ said Lachlan Bassett, 22, who is head coach at Western Sydney Whitewater club.

“It’s good to do well in the under 23s but I am pushing for the senior squad.’’

Young paddler Mark Crosbee.

Fourth place in the men’s C1 race on Sunday went to Mark Crosbee, the teenage cousin of Olympic champion Jessica Fox.

This result secured him the junior title.

Crosbee’s mother Rachel and uncle Richard Fox, the father of Jessica Fox, all competed for Britain in Olympic paddling.

Young canoe slalom paddler Mark Crosbee.

“Mum competed at Barcelona and Atlanta for Great Britain and dad raced as well and coached,’’ said Crosbee, a member of the Victorian Institute of Sport.

“They helped me get into it but I do it because I love it.’’

The 18-year-old is also hoping to compete at a future Olympics with LA and Brisbane in his sights.

“I’d love to get to 2024 but that might be a bit too difficult,’’ said the Year 12 student at Eltham High.

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Originally published as Jess Fox’s cousin, canoe slalom brothers fire at Oceania titles at Penrith