Noemie Fox Selected for Paris in Kayak Cross

NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athlete Noemie Fox will make her Olympic debut in Paris, with the 27-year-old selected by the Australian Olympic Committee to contest the new discipline of Kayak Cross.

Noemie will join sister Jess, mother Myriam and father Richard as canoe slalom Olympians.

Noemie’s selection comes after she secured a quota for Australia in the Kayak Cross by winning silver at the Global Qualification event in Prague in June.

With only three quotas on offer at the final global qualification event, Fox navigated her way through five races and a come from behind final performance to lock up the quota for Australia.

Noemie has thrived in the rough and tumble of the new discipline, which sees athletes compete in a time trial for seeding, before four athletes at a time race head-to-head through the slalom course in knock out heats.

Along with silver at the all-important global qualifying event, Noemie has also tasted World Cup bronze in kayak cross and a host of top 10 finishes this year.

Athletes contesting the K1 and C1 in Paris are also eligible for the kayak cross event, meaning Noemie and Jess Fox will join the ranks of Australian Olympic sisters to compete in the same event – just the fifth set of Australian sisters selected to contest the same individual event at an Olympic Games.

Chef de Mission for the 2024 Australian Olympic Team Anna Meares welcomed Noemie to the Team.

“I’m thrilled to announce Noemie on the Australian Olympic Team for Paris,” Ms Meares said. “I know how much this moment means to Noemie and the entire Fox family.

“Noemie has earned her place on the Australian Olympic Team, with more than a decade on national slalom teams and countless hours on the water, in the gym, travelling, studying and honing her craft from Penrith to Paris.

“While I know the Fox family is rich with Olympic representation and achievement, Noemie’s selection and achievements are exemplary in their own right. Her grit, determination and poise allows her to stand tall and proud in herself as an individual as well as within the sport and family.

“This selection is hard fought and extremely well earned. I’m proud to welcome her officially to the team for Paris and to being an Australian Olympian for life!

“Congratulations to the team at Paddle Australia, the NSW Institute of Sport, family, friends and everyone who has helped Noemie achieve her Olympic debut.”

Born in Marseille, Noemie is currently in France finalising her Paris 2024 preparations.

“It’s still hard to find the right words to describe how special this feels,” she said. “For so long the Olympics felt very unattainable as we only have one spot per category in our sport and well – the Greatest of All Time has been a bit of a barrier to entry!

“With an extra three global quotas available in the Kayak Cross for Paris 2024, I had a small opening to go to my first Olympic Games and chased the dream down hard no matter how slim and unattainable it felt. As an athlete these are the moments you dream about, crossing the line first and all your hard work to paying off at that perfect time – and for me that’s exactly what happened in Prague.

“I’m so honoured, proud and grateful to be joining my teammates Tim Anderson, Tristan Carter and my sister Jess Fox on the Australian Olympic Team. We really seized every single opportunity to try to make that Olympic dream come true so to execute the plan is truly the most special win for me, my family and my team – and one that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

“Competing in France feels like a full circle moment. In Sydney 2000 we had recently moved from France so I was cheering with French and Australian flags in my new home. Now I’ll be wearing the green and gold in France and it will definitely feel like a home Olympics in some ways.

“I’m now the final piece of the puzzle joining my family of Olympians! The Olympic Spirit is something that has been ingrained in my upbringing since the start – growing up in the aftermath of the Sydney 2000 Olympics idolising Ian Thorpe, Susie O’Neil and Cathy Freeman. I still have the book of signatures from athletes including Anna Meares and Jodie Henry from the Welcome Home Ceremonies in 2004 and 2008 at Sydney Airport.

“I then experienced London and Rio in the stands watching my sister win silver and bronze. In Tokyo I worked for the Organising Committee as the English announcer for Canoe Sprint. It’s so special to be taking part of the Olympic Games as an athlete this time round.”

Paddle Australia President and Olympian Andrew Trim welcomed today’s announcement.

“We’re incredibly proud to select Noemie as the final member of our team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” he said.

“Noemie, and the broader Paddle Australia High Performance team, identified an opportunity to qualify in the Kayak Cross, and it was fantastic to see all of the hard work pay off in Prague.

“Making your Olympic debut is a special moment, and one that I know Noemie will treasure. We look forward to cheering her on in Paris in less than a month’s time.”

Article courtesy of Australian Olympic Committee