Rio Olympics 2016: Why whitewater whiz Jessica Fox was almost lost to canoeing

JESSICA Fox has revealed fear of failure as a teen almost saw her lost to canoeing with the paddler admitting she dreaded not being able to live up to her parents feats in the whitewater.

World Champion kayaker Jessica Fox training at Penrith Whitewater Stadium. Pic: Mark Evans

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JESSICA Fox has revealed the fear of failure as a teenager almost saw her lost to canoeing with the paddler admitting she dreaded not being able to live up to her parents feats in the whitewater.

Fox’s father Richards is rated one of the greatest ever paddlers with 10 world titles while mother and coach Miriam was a French Olympian and world champion.

Jessica Fox training for an assault on a gold in Rio.

But it took a nasty accident in a completely different sport for the now 21-year-old to finally discover a love for the family passion.

Fox, who won silver in London as a schoolgirl, is now one of Australia’s best hopes on the water for gold in Rio.

“There was a lot of expectation on me being the daughter of them,’’ a now confident Fox told the Daily Telegraph.

“In our sport it is quite common. The lines of families paddling.

“I knew who they were I knew dad was one of the greatest with 10 world titles.

“There was always the doubt I wouldn’t be as good. What if I didn’t have it in my blood?

“I am sure I have some genetic ability from then but there are so many other elements in our sport.

“I wasn’t even sure I would have that natural feel on water.’’

Jessica Fox poses in her Australian opening ceremony uniform.

Despite rebelling against competing in canoe kayaking, Fox said she was still exposed to the sport at an early age and it was a constant in her life.

“We would go away on holidays and paddle. It was like a boot camp holiday. I always preferred a book,’’ said Fox, star of a new Red Bull clip going live on Thursday which gives an insight into her mindset ahead of the Rio Olympic.

“I hated it but then there were such special moments like when you would see a dolphin.”

A former swimmer and gymnast, it was a broken arm sustained in the later sport which led her to paddling fulltime.

Jessica Fox at the Oceania Open Canoe Slalom. Pic: Owen Hammond/APEC Sport Media.

“I did it as a way of recuperating. And then I started to like it. Now I love it,’’ she said.

The rest is history with Fox hoping to make more of it by winning Australia’s first gold in the whitewater in Rio.

Fox is currently overseas preparing for a string of World Cup races she will use to finetune her form for the Rio Games.

Originally published as Rio Olympics 2016: Why whitewater whiz Jessica Fox was almost lost to canoeing