Noemie Fox locks in Olympic spot in kayak cross
Noemie Fox will join her Olympic gold medal-winning sister Jessica in the Australian canoe team for the Paris Games after a brilliant performance in the kayak cross on the final day of the World Cup meet in Prague.
Noemie Fox of Australia in action during the women’s C1 of the Canoe Slalom World Cup in Krakow, southern Poland, 19 June 2022. EPA/Lukasz Gagulski
Fox, 27, had to compete in five races just to book her spot in the final in the Czech capital, where she came from behind to clinch the silver medal and an additional quota spot for Australia at the Paris Olympics.
Angele Hug from France won the gold and Britain’s Nikita Setchell was promoted from fourth to third .
Jessica Fox – who won gold in the C1 at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 – has already qualified for three different disciplines in Paris, with Noemie now all but certain to line up alongside her in the kayak cross, which will be contested for the first time at Olympic level.
“It’s been such a long day,” said Noemie after claiming one of the three quota places on offer.
“I’ve gone through step by step, go through the time trial, go through the first round.
“The goal was to do the most rounds possible and end up in the final and end up on the podium.
“It’s been such a long journey and I feel so grateful to have had the most incredible support team here with me.
“To be able to celebrate it and join the Australian Olympic team, and join my sister, it’s so incredible and I’m so happy.”
The women’s kayak cross final in Prague on Sunday (Monday AEST) was stacked, with Fox squaring off against the reigning world champion and a former world champ.
But she was able to hold her nerve and deliver when it mattered most.
“Paris has always been a distant dream and one that I wanted to latch onto, while staying a little bit rational knowing that there were so many steps to get to this day and where we are,” she said.
“It’s going to feel a bit like a home Olympics, being half French and with such a huge family and fan base in France.
“To be able to line up with Jess as well and the other two Australians Tristan (Carter) and Tim (Anderson) it’s just going to be so incredible and I can’t wait to start thinking about that journey.”
Fox’s mother and coach Myriam, who won K1 bronze representing France at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, was overjoyed to have both her daughters on the Australian Games team.
“I feel ecstatic,” she said.
“It’s a dream, it’s like an Olympic gold for me to have two girls at the Olympics.”
The full Australian canoe team for the Paris Games will be officially named in coming weeks.
The next canoe slalom World Cup meet is in Krakow, Poland next weekend.
AAP
Well that worked out pretty good.