Penrith Olympic champions Jessica and Noemie Fox have capped off an incredible year by winning one of the most prestigious awards in Australian sport.
The local pair were named joint winners of The Don Award at Monday night’s Sport Australia Hall of Fame Inductions & Awards Gala Dinner in Melbourne.
The Don Award, introduced in 1998 and named for the Sport Australia Hall of Fame’s inaugural Inductee, Sir Donald Bradman AC, honours an Australian athlete or team whose achievements and example over the past 12 months have most inspired the nation.
The fabulous Foxes became the first Australian siblings to claim individual Olympic golds, with Jess prevailing in the K1 and C1 slalom events at the Paris Games and Noemie then adding to the remarkable family tally with success on debut in a new event, the kayak cross.
Their three combined Medals at the Paris Games was the talk of the Olympics.
“It’s so special and I know when I received the call, and then when I called (Noemie) afterwards, I said, ‘Do you realise what this means?’ It’s massive and a huge honour,” Jessica said.
Noemie said it was a tremendous honour to cap off an incredible year – highlighted by her first Olympic Gold Medal.
“It’s still really hard to find the right words to think of my name next to all those previous award winners that are not only icons of Australian history, but also just sporting heroes for us growing up – especially Ian Thorpe, Cathy Freeman around that Sydney 2000 Olympics,” she said.
“For me, I just can’t think that my name is going to be on that same page with them. It’s an amazing, amazing feeling and recognition.’’
SAHOF Selection Committee chair Bruce McAvaney said it’s always difficult to isolate the most inspiring sporting performance in any year but even more so in an Olympic and Paralympic year.
“But whichever way we looked at it, the Fox sisters – and indeed the entire family – were the most remarkable. Jess, already a legend, confirmed her greatness in Paris and for Noemie to compete against her and then join her as a gold medallist at the same games is what Hollywood script writers dream about,” he said.
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.