Dress rehearsal readies Fox for hectic Games opening
Jessica Fox has incorporated an Olympic opening ceremony simulation into her training, declaring she’ll be among the athletes floating down the River Seine.
Jessica Fox will once again participate in the Olympic Games opening ceremony. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)
Three-time Olympian Fox will defend her C1 title in her native France but begin her Games tilt in K1 heats on Saturday, just hours after Friday night’s water-based opening ceremony begins at 8pm (local time).
Almost 100 boats will travel a 6km route down the French capital’s main artery, the first Olympic opening ceremony to take place outside of a stadium.
Fox, who has two silver and a bronze in K1 across the last three Games, will also race in the Games’ debut of canoe cross, alongside sister Noemie in her Olympic debut.
A flag bearer herself at Rio’s 2016 Games, Australian chef de mission and former cyclist Anna Meares will announce who has the honour in France on Wednesday.
Fox, who has already rafted with the Olympic torch this week, will be a strong option.
She is among the 80 Australian athletes who have indicated their interest in participating in the opening ceremony.
“It just gets me so inspired being with our Olympic team, being part of an incredible moment, seeing the flame being lit,” the 14-time world title-winner said on Sunday of her London, Rio and Tokyo experiences.
“It lights the fire in me for my competition.
“Within our (canoe and kayak) team, we’ve been talking about how we would manage that, and the recovery process is in place to compete the next day.
“We’ve done some simulations back home to go out late and have a race the next day, so we know we can do it.”
Meares didn’t confirm if she had already told the flag-bearer or bearers – Cate Campbell and Patty Mills shared the honour in Tokyo – of their duties.
“You’ll find out on the 24th,” she told reporters.
“My criteria for the flagbearer are longevity, achievement, character, humility, ability to connect, and contribution to Olympic sport.
“We have 460 incredible athletes on the team, many capable and I’m really looking forward to announcing that.”
