Paris Olympics 2024: Australian canoe star Jess Fox survives injury scare in wild training run

It started out as a standard training run for Olympic champion Jess Fox – but things took a bloody turn, in a stark reminder of the dangers of whitewater rafting.

Australian Olympic superstar Jess Fox survived an injury scare – which she laughed off as a ‘blooper’ – during a wild training run at her home slalom canoe course which will host the 2025 world championships.

Whitewater rafting is always fast and furious, even in practice, but the Tokyo Olympic champion was given a reminder of the dangers when she slammed her canoe into one of the bollards at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium.

She sliced the toe on her left foot so climbed out of the boat to clean up the blood and assess the damage with her mother Myriam, who is also her coach and an Olympic medallist herself, before hopping back in and finishing the session as if nothing happened.

“I’m always pushing the lines trying to get the fastest time possible, trying to squeeze in time where I can,” Fox said.

“I think the cameras caught me hitting one of the bollards pretty hard which meant I smashed into it and pushed forward and cut my toe a little bit.

“But we’re all good. I’ve had a few bloopers this week. But that’s all part of training.”

Australian Olympic superstar Jess Fox survived an injury scare during a training run. Picture: Paddle Australia

Normally, no-one would have known about her training mishap but Fox Sports were filming her from the banks as part of a visit by International Canoe Federation officials ahead of the 2025 world titles.

She fronted the cameras and explained what happened and although her focus right now is all geared towards next year’s Paris Olympics, Fox admitted she can’t wait to compete at the world titles taking place near her family home.

“It’s super exciting to have the world championships in 2025 out here in Penrith,” she told this masthead.

“It’ll be 25 years since Sydney (2000 Olympics) and then seven years in the lead up to Brisbane so it’s an amazing opportunity for us. It’s still one of the best venues in the world.

“It just makes me more excited. Post Paris, it just gives you another goal to work towards and to keep improving and keep motivated for sure.”

Fox, 29, has already won medals at each of the past three Olympics and will compete in three events in Paris, but is showing no signs of wanting to slow down.

But the Olympic champion laughed it off as a ‘blooper’ Fox. Picture: Paddle Australia

She just won another two gold medals at the most recent world championships in London two months ago so is on track for another big showing at Paris next year.

“It’s been a pretty amazing season for me this year,” she said.

“Each year I’m always looking at what could I have done better than that race or what can I do better in my training or can I finish the year.

“I’m satisfied that I gave it everything and I’ve ticked off a few goals but I still feel like I can improve.

“I’m really competitive and I think that’s what keeps me motivated and hungry to keep improving myself and my skills.”

Born in France, Fox is certain to be one of Australia’s most popular athletes at the Games after winning bronze in kayak and gold in canoe at Tokyo. This time, organisers have added another event, extreme slalom, which has opened the way for Fox to possibly compete alongside her younger sister Noemie, who is also a world class paddler.

“The kayak cross event, this new event for the Games in Paris, that’s very tactical,” Fox said.

“It’s a lot of strategy and head to head racing, so you’ve got to be really adaptable in the moment and that comes with preparation and training and sparring and that sort of stuff.

“The day I stop enjoying that process will be when it’s probably time to call it. But for now, it’s still there.”