Sisters Jess and Noemie strike gold in year of the Fox

Olympians Jess and Noemie Fox, who took out three gold medals between then in Paris, are the first nominees for The Australian’s Australian of the Year.

Women's canoe slalom Olympic gold medallists Jessica Fox, left, and sister Noemie in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris in August. Picture: Getty

Three gold medals, flag-bearing honour, membership into the most exclusive Olympic groups and numerous brand deals, all the while captivating the hearts of Australians across the country.

While 2024 may have been officially the Year of the Dragon, it quickly became the year of the Fox as sisters Jess and Noemie’s Paris Olympic success turned them into household names and catapulted them to national sweetheart status.

The pair are the first nominees for The Australian’s Australian of the Year, a tradition that began in 1971 to recognise those leaders who inspired, led, helped or triumphed.

Chosen as the country’s flag-bearer at July and August’s Paris Olympics, Jess joined a pantheon of Olympic greats in being bestowed with the honour, including the likes of Dawn Fraser and Ian Thorpe.

The sisters had dominated world canoeing with 17 world titles between them but it was 2024’s Olympic success that cemented Jess and Noemie in the sport’s history books and the nation’s hearts.

Jess took out double in the K1 and C1 events followed by an awe-inspiring win for Noemie in the slalom, with vision of her older sister jumping into the water to celebrate with her sibling one of the Games’ iconic images.

Not only is Jess widely recognised as the best paddler in history, she is a leader off the water, too. The 30-year-old is a member of both the Australian Olympic Committee and International Olympic Committee’s athletes’ commission, helping to ensure that the views of athletes remains central to decisions made by those bodies.

Jess, right, congratulates her sister, Noemie, after winning gold in the women's canoe slalom competition at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium during the Paris Olympic Games in August. Picture: AFP

Now two of Australia’s highest-profile Olympic athletes, the sisters have an extensive suite of blue chip sponsors and are engaging brand ambassadors, corporate speakers and media figures.

It wasn’t all smooth canoeing for Jess and Noemie, however, after they were subjected to a much-publicised interview from NRL legend Brad Fittler, whose “kiss cam” and beer jokes fell astoundingly flat.

For Jess, the year was a “whirlwind” of training and opportunity, but it has taken her to places she never thought she’d reach.

“There was so much build-up to Paris and everything I did over the last three years was geared to perform at my best during those two weeks in July and August,’’ she previously told The Australian.

“Since then it has been such a blur and a whirlwind of celebration, opportunity, exhaustion and reflecting on such a huge moment in my career and my life. It was everything I dreamt about and the reality of being home has left me a little overwhelmed with the love and support from everyone,’’ she said.

Noemie, 27, said winning gold and returning to a hero’s welcome in Sydney was a “surreal moment”.

“Those moments are ingrained in me forever and lit the fire, so to come back here to Australia and hear (the crowd’s cheer) as I was going down the stairs was an emotional full-circle moment,” she told The Australian in August.

“I was so happy to be in Paris and enjoying every moment of it, so to deliver my best on the day and win every battle was a dream come true.”

To nominate the 2024 Australian of the Year, email [e-mail]. Please include your name and contact details (this information is collected solely for this award and will not be used for any other purpose). The winner will be announced on Saturday, January 25, 2025.