Jess Fox devastated by late penalty as Spain’s Maialen Chourraut takes canoe slalom title
ACCEPTING defeat with class and grace, Jess Fox said her heart broke when she spotted an asterix moments after her blistering final run.
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THIS is the heartbreaking moment a father told his daughter that her Rio Olympic Games dream was shattered.
Overcome by confusion and doubt, Jess Fox looked up at her father Richard — Australia’s performance director for canoe-kayak — dreading what he was about to say.
“I called her over to prepare her for what may happen,” Richard Fox said.
“I told her they were looking at a possible touch. She’s had decisions like this which have gone against her in World Cups and so she began saying, ‘Oh, no not again’.”
What unfolded was gut-wrenching. Gold medal favourite in the K1 women’s canoe-slalom final, Fox, 22, held her head in her hands as she was penalised two seconds by the video judge.
Richard placed his hand on his daughter’s shoulder.
The blistering run time that had catapulted the London silver medallist into the lead was gone, ruining the dream she began plotting as a 10-year-old.
Fox, who is coached by her mother Myriam, finished with bronze. Spain’s Maialen Chourraut won gold and Lukka Jones from New Zealand silver.
On a day on which a heavy crosswind played havoc for all 10 competitors, the video judge deemed Fox had clipped the upstream gate 22 — the second last gate on the Deodoro whitewater course in Rio.
Neither Richard nor Jess Fox saw or felt the touch, but the world No. 1 accepted the decision with the same dignity and class that has helped her become one of Australia’s most marketable athletes.
“I was thrilled to put down a run — it wasn’t perfect but it went into the lead, which was fantastic,’’ Fox said.
“And then obviously the asterisk came up next to my name and a late penalty was added — and my heart sank.
“Dad called me over and just explained what gate it was and what was happening. It kind of flashed back to four years ago when he came and congratulated me (in London), but this time it wasn’t the best news.
“I didn’t feel it (the touch) because it was on my back. That’s what the video judges look at and it’s a fair call.
“I didn’t know if that (penalty) would be good enough for a podium, so I played the waiting game again.’’
Having arrived in Rio under the pressure being the gold medal favourite, Fox spoke with pride in her bronze medal while also declaring the experience would drive her towards Tokyo 2020.
“To be on the podium again, a second time is great,’’ Fox said.
“Not many women have been able to back-up and medal at the Olympics.
“The only thing missing is the gold medal now.
“It’s been an amazing four years for me, I’ve grown so much as an athlete.
“I’m more motivated than ever. I was the fittest I’ve ever been and I was paddling the best I’ve ever been paddling.
“Four years is a long time, but a lot happened between London and Rio and I’m looking forward to it.’’
Originally published as Jess Fox devastated by late penalty as Spain’s Maialen Chourraut takes canoe slalom title
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