Paris Games 2024: Aussie rowing, canoe and kayak stars ditch Olympic village for extra edge

Some of Australia’s brightest medal prospects in Paris – including canoe and kayak superstar Jessica Fox – have opted out of staying at the Olympic village.

DAILY TELEGRAPH 6TH NOVEMBER 2023 Pictured at Circular Quay in Sydney is Australian Olympic and World Canoe Slalom Champion Jess Fox who was today announced as the second official team member for the Australian Olympic team heading to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Picture: Richard Dobson

Some of Australia’s top medal prospects will be housed outside the Olympic village in Paris to avoid the torturous traffic tangles that could otherwise add hours to their daily commute.

Australia’s rowers and kayakers are leaving no stone unturned in their search for success in Paris, staying outside of the Olympic village in a chateau close to the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium which will host their events throughout the Games.

The stadium is 39km from the Olympic village – a potential hour-long trip one way in even moderate traffic – but by staying closer to the venue for canoe sprint and slalom, as well as rowing events, the athletes will avoid sitting on a bus for hours every day.

It’s among several high performance decisions that have been made by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and their member sports as they prepare for the best outcomes at the Games.

One of Australia’s highest-profile Olympians, and red-hot gold medal chance, Jess Fox. Picture: Richard Dobson

Tokyo Games chef de mission Anna Meares said several athletes across many sports would be based outside of the main village in Paris in sub villages and satellite sites.

“It’s definitely a unique game and being widespread (there’ll be) a lot of sub sites and satellite villages,” Meares said.

“We’re going to have 150 athletes outside of the village, but we’ve got a great team – not just with the Australian athletes, but with the HQ team with the AOC that’s going to be able to support them across the board.”

Rowing and paddling were among the most successful sports for Australia in Tokyo.

The men’s and women’s coxless fours both won gold in an “hour of power” for rowing that also delivered bronze medals to the men’s and women’s quad sculls.

In sprint canoeing, Jean van der Westhuyzen and Thomas Green won gold in the K2 in Tokyo and both will line up again in Paris as part of a strong 11-member team.

Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Anna Meares explained the accommodation change as a secret weapon. Picture: Getty

Meanwhile, Jess Fox heads to Paris as one of the highest-profile athletes in Australia’s team, looking to defend the gold medal she won in the canoe slalom in Tokyo, while also eyeing off gold in the kayak – and event in which she already has three Olympic medals without yet stepping on to the top of the dais.

She also heads into the new event of kayak cross as one of the medal favourites and could walk away from her fourth Games with a swag of medals.

Meares – one of Australia’s greatest Olympians who won six Olympic medals, including two gold, over four Games as a track cyclist – has had extensive conversations with sports about creating the best possible environments for their athletes in and around Paris.

“It was largely was up to the preparation phase when we were talking to sports around what do you need for the best outcome, and best environment, for your athletes,” Meares said of the decision-making process.

“Is being in the village and commuting the best option, or do you require accommodation closer?

“And with that feedback from the sports, we then work to with them in trying to find the accommodation that best suited their needs.

“As an athlete, the less you can move and travel in those environments, the better.

“And you know, some athletes prefer to be in the busy hustle bustle. So it’s just a bit of working with them on that.”

Australia’s Alexander Purnell, Spencer Turrin, Jack Hargreaves and Alexander Hill celebrate gold in the final of the Mens Four in Tokyo. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Sweep rower Alex Purnell, who won gold as a member of the four in Tokyo and will race in the eight in Paris as Australia pushes for a historic first gold in that event, backed the decision to stay near the course.

“It’s just time consuming in the day when you have to travel long distances,” Purnell said.

“We’re there for performance reasons, so if that’s going to give us – which it will – the best chance to represent the country and try and win medals for Australia, then it’s the right decision.

“And it sounds like it’s pretty good there, 15 or 20 minutes away or something, so it’s the right call and we need to do that.”

Athletes in sports being contested outside of the capital, such as sailing, football and basketball, will be housed in sub villages and sites that are the responsibility of the Games organising committee, while sports such as rowing, canoe/kayak and shooting, which have made a decision to be based outside the village for high performance reasons, are the responsibility of the AOC.

A spokesman said regardless of where athletes stayed, officials would go to great lengths to ensure they all felt part of the Aussie team, with the same provisions, benefits and opportunities available as for those based in the village.

Originally published as Paris Games 2024: Aussie rowing, canoe and kayak stars ditch Olympic village for extra edge