The 10-minute game that helped Jess Fox calm her nerves before elusive gold

Paris: Jess Fox sat back and tried to think of a five-letter word. Having snuck through to the women’s kayak singles final, not without the drama of a two-second penalty, she needed to zone out and focus on snaring that goal.

No recurring letters. Loose clothing… Smock.

“Because I was last off for the semi and one of the first off in the finals, I just had to chill out,” says Fox, beaming after winning her second Olympic gold and fifth medal in a fourth Games.

“I just kind of did the Wordle of the day for 10 minutes.”

After qualifying eighth to reach the final in the semi – a stark contrast to her commanding effort on the first day – Fox showed her class when it truly mattered at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, about 22km east of Paris, on Sunday.

With a silver and two bronze medals at this event at her previous three Games, Australia’s official flag-bearer flew down the white water in rapid time to set the pace in the K1 (kayak single) in 96.08 seconds.

She improved her time from the semi-final by six seconds, avoiding any penalties. With half the field to follow her, a nervous watch and wait followed. But her time ensured her competitors had to take more risks to navigate the tricky course.

This was the gold medal Jess Fox really wanted.Credit: Getty Images

“I mean even though I was happy, you just never know,” Fox 30, says. “There were some really strong girls to come behind me so I was so nervous watching that. I just had my fingers crossed and tried to pray and do everything I could to just stay calm.”

Seven kayaks had to go down the 200m course after Fox, and it came down to the final run. Ricarda Funk, the defending champion from Germany, flew out of the blocks only to hit a gate and attract a time penalty. The crowd gasped. Then they cheered. The kayak gold finally belonged to Fox.

Having watched on for almost 20 torturous minutes. Her face fell into her hands and the tears began to flow.

“For me, it’s just so incredibly special to achieve this dream goal that I’ve had for many years that I’ve been working towards for many years,” says Fox, who was born in Marseille in southern France. “And to go through that medal ceremony and to see so many others in the crowd was just incredible.”

“It was just the perfect day for me. It didn’t start well, but it finished really well, and it was just magical.”

Among those in the large Australian contingent in the crowd was Australian chef de mission Anna Meares, Australian Sports Commission chief executive Kieren Perkins and AOC president Ian Chesterman. Fox, who Meares had personally chosen to carry to flag in Friday night’s opening ceremony, embraced her following her win.

The victory is very much a family affair. Her mum, Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi, won bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Games for her home country of France. Her dad, Richard Fox, also an Olympian, won five individual and five team world championships for Britain.

“In London, she was 18 years old, and she faltered a little bit,” said Richard, who once against called his daughter’s gold medal run for the official broadcaster, Nine. “In Rio she hit it, in Tokyo she hit it, and today she cleaned it and that was the good omen for me. She’s been No.1 in the world for I don’t know how long, but she’s never won.

“She had so much on her shoulders here, and I think now she will enjoy the rest of the racing knowing she has ticked that box.”

Mum, her coach, was by her side straight after the race. She even joined in on the lengthy media opportunities that followed.

“I’m so thrilled and happy for her,” she says. “I failed to bring the gold twice in the two Olympics I competed in [Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996] so I know how hard it is, so for Jess to do it in this stadium is amazing.”

Elation captured in one exquisite, emotional moment.Credit: Kirsty Wrigglesworth/AP

“I am so thankful for any colour of the medal. Did you see how beautiful it is with the piece of the Eiffel Tower?”

Four years ago when Fox won gold in Tokyo, there was no crowd and a feeling of separation for the athletes because of strict COVID protocols.

It was part of the reason she was so keen to lead Australia’s delegation out alongside hockey veteran Eddie Ockenden in Friday night’s ceremony.

Fox says she never subscribed to the theory that added pressure would fall on her shoulders.

“I tried not to think about,” she says. “You know, the superstitions around being flag-bearer and blowing it, or whatever it might be. I think it was more about using it as good fuel, and the incredible honour that it was.”

At 30, Fox already holds 10 world champion titles (four in kayaking, four in canoeing and two in cross-country) and more Olympic medals lie ahead. She still has the C1, in which she is the reigning Olympic champion, and kayak cross, a new discipline at Olympic level in which four athletes race against each other, to come.

In the latter, she could compete against her sister, Noemie, who jumped for joy and hugged everyone around her when it was confirmed that the gold would go to big sister.

“I feel like this is the perfect start,” says Fox. “With the highs come the energy, but you’ve got to focus on recharging as well. I’ll celebrate a little bit, but I think we’ll be off to bed and back to training tomorrow to refocus for the canoe.”

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