Leonay paddler Jessica Fox has proved she’s the one to beat at next month’s Rio Olympic Games after an impressive double at the U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships in Poland last weekend.
The 22-year-old, who took out silver in the K1 at the London Olympics in 2012, won her third consecutive U23 K1 title last Sunday afternoon, blitzing her rivals to win by more than three seconds.
24 hours earlier Fox won her third U23 non-Olympic C1 world title, also by more than three seconds.
Speaking after her epic K1 final, Fox said she was thrilled with both her performances leading into Rio.
“It was pretty solid, I’m really happy with that delivery,” she said.
“I’m really happy to win my 10th junior and U23 world title today.”
Fox’s double in Krakow follows on from a solid World Cup campaign in Europe, which has her feeling very confident heading into her second Olympics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_m_-C06-cs
“The World Cups were really good preparation for the Olympics, but this was different,” she said.
“It’s a Championship, there was more pressure, and it’s a longer racing week. It’s closer to the Olympics, so that’s why I wanted to race.
“I know a lot of athletes will have had a month and a half without racing, so for me I think this was a good test and a good hit-out. I know the speed is there and the technique is there, so now it’s just about fine tuning.”
Fox was 3.11 seconds ahead of the Czech Republic’s Karolina Galuskova, with Germany’s Lisa Fritsche finishing third.
Fox is now bound for Rio where she’ll finish off her preparation for the Olympics.
Nathan Taylor
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.