‘You bloody ripper’: Australian phenom Jess Fox makes history with Olympic gold

Australia has fallen in love with Olympic champion Jess Fox after the canoe slalom star finally ended a nine-year drought.

TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Jessica Fox of Team Australia reacts after her run in the Women's Canoe Slalom Semi-final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kasai Canoe Slalom Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

After nine years of Olympic heartbreak, Australian phenom Jess Fox has finally checked off the one career achievement that kept evading her.

Fox won gold in the first ever women’s C1 Olympic final on Thursday afternoon, becoming the first slalom paddler to win an Olympic medal of each colour in canoe and kayak events.

Britain’s Mallory Franklin took an early lead in the final by registering a blistering time of 108.68, which was faster than anyone managed in the semi-finals.

Germany’s Andrea Herzog also impressed with a time of 111.13, putting herself in the provisional silver medal position.

Brazilian athlete Ana Satila also put in a solid time, but copped a brutal 50-second penalty for narrowly missing Gate 22.

Fox got her run off to a flyer, passing the first checkpoint more than two seconds ahead of Franklin‘s time.

The 27-year-old briefly got stuck at Gate 15, but showed her class to quickly escape from the white water at Kasai Canoe Slalom Centre.

And after nailing the second half of the course, Fox secured a historic gold medal with a time of 105.04, more than three seconds faster than anyone else.

Olympic live blog: Day 6 coverage

It was a moment nine years in the making.

“She is a wonder woman on the water. What a performance!” Channel 7 commentator David Culbert cried.

In touching scenes, Fox’s mother and coach embraced the emotional champion moments after she completed her run.

It was the perfect redemption after a couple of errors in the K1 final robbed Fox of a gold medal earlier this week.

Australia reacts to Fox’s triumph

Australian Paralympian Kurt Fearnley tweeted: “JESS FOX!!!!!!!! You are my freaking hero!!!!! So amazing!!!!”
Channel 7 reporter Tom Browne tweeted: “I don’t think there has ever been a more deserved gold medal winner. Jess Fox is a legend. Completely compelling.”

Fox Sports presenter Sarah Olle posted: “The Olympics are so cool because you become inexplicably happy for someone you don’t know. Thanks for the ear to ear smile, Jess.”

Aussie tennis star Dylan Alcott tweeted: “JESS FOX YOU FLAT OUT LEGEND!!! OLYMPIC CHAMPION! Could not think of an athlete more deserving – an incredible athlete but an even better person. YES!”

And breathe… you bloody ripper!!! #gold for Jess Fox!!!

— Brenton Speed (@BrentonSpeed) July 29, 2021

Jess Fox!! You legend!!!

— Liz Ellis (@LizzyLegsEllis) July 29, 2021

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE ESPECIALLY JESS FOX 🦊 🥇 #Olympics

— Georgie Parker (@georgieparker) July 29, 2021

It was a little bit hard to breathe then. How bloody unbelievable. Two minutes can define an entire sporting legacy. And Jess Fox bloody nailed it. #Olympics

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) July 29, 2021

Jess Fox made it looks effortless. Proud Australian for a hot minute. 🛶 has been an Olympic sport since 1936, only took until 2021 for women to be able to compete… pic.twitter.com/2xLAI4uGeO

— Holiday Sidewinder (@hsidewinder) July 29, 2021

‘That was wild’: Father reacts to long-awaited gold

Seven commentator Richard Fox shared his emotions after his daughter finally broke through to win an Olympic gold medal.

“That‘s beautiful, that was wild. She nearly, nearly fell away from that and that would have been devastating,“ Fox said.

The semi today did her a lot of good because she was down. That kayak final rocked her, it rocked me. When you hit the last gate or the last upstream, she made sure this time, make sure you don‘t hit it with your hair.

“I said, ‘Make your choices, own your choices with confidence and control.’ And she did. She made good choices. Find the flow, feel it and focus. And the focus was so strong. She kept breathing and she held it.

“She’s deserved it, she will be so happy. Oh, she’s so gracious when she doesn’t get it. I don’t really know what to say. She was magnificent. That was such a tough course, such a tough run. It was a great race from Mallory. It was a target. I think it was good for her to have to chase a big score.”

Jess Fox on the podium after her Olympic triumph.

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Speaking to Channel 7 after the final, Fox promised she would return for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

“It was amazing to be a part of this women’s C1 event here in Tokyo for the first time ever,” Fox said.

“It was a tough couple of days – mentally, emotionally, it took everything out of me. So to put down a run that I’m proud of, I’m over the moon.

“I hope we’ve inspired some girls and boys today … I felt the love over from Australia.”