One Moment Jess Fox Would Set in Bronze

It’s estimated defending Olympic champion, and New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship athlete, Jessica Fox OAM, has already spent 10,000 hours of her life at the Penrith White Water Stadium.

Taking that into consideration it’s no surprise that Fox’s response to being asked to nominate the most significant one minute she’s spent at the place that’s been described as both her ‘playground’ and ‘office’ is to knit her eyebrows tightly together as her mind’s eye scours through literally thousands of thoughts and images.

As Fox negates the rapid flow of memories just as she might the gates on the nearby slalom course, she provides an audible commentary of what’s swirling around in her head until she – and, triumphantly so – finishes with a ‘most memorable’ moment she says deserves top billing.

“We moved here [from France] when I was three for the Sydney Olympic Games because my parents were coaching the Australian team,” she says, still searching for the elusive moment. “When we were little [my younger sister] Noemie and I would come and play in the sand pit out the back or we’d jump on the raft.

“Eventually I got in the kayak, and . . . so, . . . if I were to put it down to one minute . . . maybe . . .  it’s from just over 10-years ago when I qualified for the London Olympic Games as a 17-year-old. That moment was a dream come true . . . yes, the most exciting moment . . .  because . . . that was going to catapult me on my journey, my career.

“So, it was very, very exciting. If I think back 10-years ago, that’s probably the moment.”

At just 28, Fox’s haul of four Olympic medals from three Games – including the treasured gold she seized from Britain’s Mallory Franklin in the C1 Canoe Slalom at Tokyo – her 38 World Cup gold medals, and nine world championships, has gained her recognition as – male or female – the greatest paddler of all time.

Last month Penrith City Council commemorated her litany of successes – and gold-plated status in the local community as a model citizen and advocate for women in sport – by unveiling a bronze plaque which details her still flourishing career.

While Fox remains genuinely humbled by the gesture, she offered a loud laugh when it was suggested there was no room left on the tablet – destined to adorn the entry of the Whitewater Stadium – for future triumphs.

“Well, yes, I definitely don’t feel like I’m finished – which is good,” says Fox of her future in sport with a grin.

“It’s a huge honour to have that kind of recognition from Penrith City Council, from the area, and to have my name up on the wall where I come every day to train . . . the place where I’ve been for almost the last 20-years.

“I’ve grown up here and it’s very special to have that recognition. But, no, I don’t feel like I’m finished . . . so . . . if there’s better results on the horizons maybe they’ll add another plaque [laughs]. Or a statue! [laughs] A statue! Yes, I’m open to that [laughs].”

Fox’s high spirits comes as she’s preparing to leave for Europe for yet another campaign with the Australian team. However, the plaque, her hefty haul of medals, and lofty mantle as ‘greatest of all time’, has led many to wonder whether the daughter of Myriam – who finished with a bronze Olympic medal for France at the 1996 Atlanta Games, and her father Richard, who came fourth for Great Britain at Barcelona in 1992 – decided to become a champion while watching the paddling at Penrith during the 2000 Games.

“I was six years old during the Sydney Olympics, and six is really young,” she replied when asked whether the home Games were the catalyst to her becoming a paddler.

“But, Noemie and I were always sporty kids, and I knew both my parents had been to the Olympics. I suppose the fact I was around a high performance environment from a young age, and seeing an Olympics on our doorstep, made it feel more real and made it a possibility.

“Maybe I could see that was possible – after all, ‘you can be what you can see’ – is that old saying.

“So, I imagine Sydney 2000 ignited some excitement about the Olympics, and after that there was Athens. I was 10 by then and glued to the television. I was into sport, wanting to go to the Olympics myself.

“Sydney definitely started all of that in some way, but, at the time, I think I was more interested in playing with my Susie O’Neill Barbie doll than actually [entertaining] the idea of being an Olympian!”

Initially, Fox tried to emulate O’Neill by throwing herself into swimming when she was about seven, and while reports suggest she dominated the 50 and 100 metre races at her school and regional carnivals, she didn’t train as much as was necessary to follow the likes of O’Neill, Ian Thorpe, Giaan Rooney, and Kieran Perkins to greater things in the pool.

Nevertheless, Fox believes swimming – allied with her time in gymnastics – provided her with the foundation that was needed for the sporting challenges that lay ahead.

“I think having swimming and gymnastics as ‘foundation’ sports were amazing,” she said. “Especially swimming, because you learn to ‘feel’ the water, and you learn that work ethic. You feel what it’s like to work hard and to really push yourself.

“In gymnastics you get that special awareness, and you build your strength and your core. As I say, both were wonderful foundation sports.”

Indeed, it was through gymnastics that Fox took her first foray into paddling as an 11-year-old after she broke her arm while attempting to do a double barani twist – or an aerial somersault flip. Even though she landed on the crash mat, which was supposed to prevent bones from being busted, Fox had generated so much speed her arm snapped upon impact.

“After breaking my arm my physio, Tony, said I should paddle for rehab,” she recalled. “And that’s how I started.”

Her journey towards superstardom began on the Nepean River where she paddled with her parents on the flatwater before progressing to the white water rapids, a challenge which Fox openly admits tested her young nerve.

“You have to get over the fear, get over the challenging pieces,” she said of the Nepean. “I remember going down the rapids with mum and dad, following them down and hopping down each stopper, thinking to myself at the time ‘oh wow, I made it down that part’.”

Fox has been an NSWIS athlete since 2009, and she nominates her scholarship as an important reason for where she finds herself 14-years later. She uses the word ‘grateful’ when asked to describe what the Institute’s long-term support has meant to her.

“NSWIS has been a big part of my career – my whole career,” she says enthusiastically. “I remain so grateful for the Institute’s support. I’m grateful to be a part of such an amazing team.

“When we get together at the NSWIS awards it always strikes me as something special to reflect – and to see – what amazing talent we have throughout NSW.”

Daniel Lane, NSWIS