Fox clinches top NSW Sports gong after epic year in the kayak
White water sensation Jessica Fox has been named the NSW Sports Athlete of the Year, capping off an incredible year for the world's best kayaker.
Key points:
- Jessica Fox aiming to end Olympic gold medal drought at Tokyo 2020 after glittering 2018
- Clinched NSW Sport's top individual award ahead of a competitive field
- Said she is happy to see so many female athletes getting recognition on the world stage
Fox became the most successful paddler of all time in October when she won the C1 (canoe singles) World cup, the K1 (kayak singles) World Cup and gold in both events at the World Championships this year.
On Tuesday night, she held off a fiercely competitive field to take out NSW Sport's top award.
External Link: Jess Fox's post on Instagram
"It's an incredible honour after an amazing year, to be up against the other outstanding athletes. It's a great celebration of sport and community," she said.
"World Cup racing in Germany was really special, to beat the rival Germans on their home course, I was really proud of my runs and winning the world title was icing on the cake," she added.
Fox won in a hotly contested final vote ahead of Australian rugby league captain Boyd Cordner, surfer Stephanie Gilmore, winter Olympian Matthew Graham, Test cricketer Ellyse Perry, high jumper Brandon Starc and diver Melissa Wu.
The awards also saw netball legend Liz Ellis presented with The Waratah, which recognises outstanding long-term contribution to sport in NSW, while Catherine Cox (netball), Julie Dolan (football), Jana Pittman (athletics), Melanie Roche (softball) and Mark Skaife (motor racing) were all inducted into the NSW Hall of Champions.
In what has been a huge year for women in sport in NRL, cricket and AFL, Fox said it was wonderful to see women on the world stage receiving the recognition they deserve.
"The more we talk about female athletes, the more mainstream media coverage and celebration [they get], the more things will improve. It's lovely to see the rise of women in sport," she said.
Paddling is in Fox's blood. Born to two Olympic medallist canoeists, she has honed her talent at her local Penrith Canoeing club.
Who is Jessica Fox?
- Born in Marseille, France, to Olympic canoeist parents, Jessica Fox was raised in Penrith in western Sydney
- Coached by her mother Myriam, Fox started competing on the international stage in 2008 at 14 years old
- Her father Richard was a five-time world champion and represented Great Britain at the 1992 Olympics and her mother Myriam at the 1996 games where she won bronze for France
- She graduated high school in 2011 before completing a bachelor's degree in social science and psychology
- Fox won the overall World Cup title in the C1 class in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2018 and the K1 in 2018
"Having access to the white water stadium set up for the Olympics in my backyard had been amazing and helped me succeed. Athletes from all over the world come here in the summer to train," she said.
On Fox's Olympic debut, she won a silver medal at the 2012 London games in the K1 event and won a bronze in 2016 at the Rio Olympics.
The 24-year-old is now preparing to win that elusive gold at the Tokyo 2020 games.
It will be the first time Women's C1 will feature at the Olympics and victory would be a dream come true.
"2020 is the year I want to be peaking, it comes around so quickly but I will focus on improving my technique and strength," she said.
Such success doesn't come easy and involves gruelling behind-the-scenes work.
"I train twice a day, six or seven days a week, training 1.5 hours white water, flat water sessions, gym, Pilates, yoga and running, as well as video review sessions after training," she said.
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