Jess Fox and sister Noemie relish chance to finally compete at the same Olympic Games

Jess Fox is a triple Olympian with 14 world titles to her name but the one thing she’d craved so long is finally happening at the Paris Games.

Even with the most precious items on her bucket list ticked off, Jess Fox is still dreaming up ways to honour Australia.

A national sporting treasure, Fox is the sentimental favourite to be chosen as Australia’s female flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony at the Paris Olympics, taking place on the River Seine.

It would be a fitting recognition for Fox, who was born in France but moved to Australia as a toddler with her parents, Richard Fox and Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi, but is as dinky-di as they come, having won everything imaginable in her chosen sport of canoe slalom.

A triple Olympian, her accomplishments include a gold medal plus an eye-popping 14 world titles, but the one thing she’d craved so long is finally happening at Paris.

For the first time, Fox will compete alongside her younger sister Noemie, who is also a world class paddler.

Noemie Fox finally gets her crack at an Olympic Games. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Until now, each country has only been allowed to enter a maximum of one boat in each of the canoeing and kayaking slalom events, but the addition of kayak cross – also known as extreme slalom – has seen both sisters qualify for Paris.

“Obviously, with our parents being themselves Olympians, it’s just the most incredible story to have all four of us now as Olympians and part of that Olympic family,” Fox said.

“It’s incredible. They’re very proud, of course.”

For Noemie, the chance to join her older sibling at the Olympics was a dream come true for her as well

“The overriding emotions are definitely pride to be able to wear the green and gold finally,” she said.

“To join Jess on the Olympic team is so amazing. I feel I can kind of bring that sort of fresh blood to her. It’s amazing to be able to share that all together now and to live the experience together.

“Hopefully we line up next to each other in the final, that would be the best possible outcome.”

For all her past success, Fox has never tired of competing.

That’s partly what makes her so great. She’s always trying to get better.

After winning silver at London (2012), bronze at Rio (2016) and another bronze at Tokyo, Fox finally broke through for gold at the last Olympics, with her dad calling the race on television.

Picture: Getty Images

“Tokyo was such a special Games, achieving that Olympic dream of the gold medal,” she said.

“I’d achieved that childhood dream and I wasn’t sure how I’d feel after that, whether that still be that fire and excitement and desire and determination to push and be hungry versus being the hunted and the one that everyone is chasing.

“But for me, it’s still there, I definitely come into these Games excited, nervous, of course, as well and wanting to give it my best crack.

“I know that I’ve achieved that gold medal and that can’t be taken away from me, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want another one.”

Successful in her passport, but also a good role model, Fox ticks all the boxes to carry the flag at the Opening Ceremony, but says just competing at the Olympics was reward enough.

“Once an Olympian, always an Olympian, you carry that with you forever and it inspires you,” she said.

“It makes you part of this very exclusive club of Olympians around the world who get to feel that flame energy and the way sport unites everyone.

“So when I think about Paris and how the vision for the games is presented to us and what we’re about to experience in the next couple of weeks, it just gives me the tingles and I think that’s the Olympics. It just gives you this energy that you really can’t find anywhere else.”

Originally published as Jess Fox and sister Noemie relish chance to finally compete at the same Olympic Games