Olympics, 2024: Jess Fox family history to be made as great medal hope firms as flagbearer
Paddler Jess Fox has had the honour of carrying the Olympic flame down the same course she will be chasing gold. Fox is also the firm favourite to carry the Australian flag at the Opening Ceremony.
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As the excitement builds ahead of the opening ceremony, champion Australian paddler Jess Fox had the honour of carrying the torch as it nears its final destination.
The odds-on favourite to carry the Australian flag, Fox was beaming as she raised the torch on the same waterway where she will be chasing gold.
Fox was beaming as she and five fellow crew members at the Nautical Stadium, Vaires-sur-Marne, navigated the course which had a reduced water flow.
“It was an amazing opportunity to be part of the torch relay and sit in the raft and go down which is a bit different ... we got to go down the rapids and survived it was an amazing experience,” Fox said after the event.
“Five Olympic champions in the raft plus the guide so hope we know what we are doing. It was an amazing to be part of the experience to carry the torch and see the Olympic Flame.”
Fox will be one of the few Australian athletes attending the opening ceremony in Paris on Friday – whether she is a flagbearer or not.
Given her enormous schedule, it would be understandable if Fox rejected the honour of carrying the flag should she be named and instead focused on her first event just hours after the procession on the Seine.
But she’s determined to be part of what will be the most jaw-dropping opening of a Games.
“Obviously the flagbearer is such a huge role in our team and would be an incredible honour if I was chosen to be flagbearer,” she said.
“There are many, many athletes, when you think about our team, who could be on the shortlist, so we’ll see who our chef de mission chooses but just to be even mentioned in that same sentence is always an honour.
“And I can’t wait for that opening ceremony. It’s going to be absolutely incredible on the Seine.
“I am planning on going regardless of whether or not the flagbearer role comes my way.
“It’s for me such an important part of the Olympics to feel that energy, that excitement. I’ve done it in London, Rio, Tokyo, even though I was competing in the days following.
“It’s managing the fatigue, obviously, but also for me, I get so much energy from that moment and inspiration from that moment to sort of kickstart the Games.”
It will be an unprecedented moment for the Fox family, who can all call themselves Olympians.
Dad Richard Fox was a legendary British paddler and mum Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi, who competed in 1992 and ’96, has become a celebrated coach who has guided her two daughters Jessica and Noemie to Olympic honours.
“The vibe is just a dream to be honest. Projecting ourselves at the Games all together is a dream come true,” Jess said.
“Being able to do that with my sister, who’s been a training partner, a competitor, my sister, best friend, but also ... she’s worked at the Games, she’s been a volunteer, she’s been a spectator, she’s done everything else except be the athlete at the Games.
“So for her to qualify and be able to share that together is going to be incredible.
“My dad competed at the ’92 Olympics; my mum ’92 and ’96; I’ve done a few and now finally, Noemie joins the club in the family.
“So it is really beautiful to be able to celebrate that as a family.”
A family that fought for their sport, fought for it to be held in Australia and is set to bring the country joy again over the next few weeks.
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