Article by Chris Robinson & Jake Santa Maria , courtesy of The West Australian.
Jessica Fox says she was inspired by the efforts of Ariarne Titmus and Kaylee McKeown in defending their Olympic gold medals before achieving the same feat herself with victory in the kayak canoe slalom.
And the 30-year-old superstar is on the brink of something done by just one athlete in Australian Olympic history as she eyes a historic third gold by the time the Games are over.
Fox grabbed Australia’s seventh gold medal of the Games, and her second in Paris, with a superb run at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium whitewater course to cap a dream week that saw her carry the nation’s flag at the opening ceremony.
It was her sixth individual Olympic medal to thrust her into the upper echelon of Australia’s most successful athletes.
Fox was ecstatic at securing the C1 result, which came just two days after her breakthrough K1 triumph.
“Oh my gosh. I can’t believe that it’s in my hands now,” she said on Nine with her gold medal around her neck.
“It’s just surreal and I can’t wait to celebrate with everyone.”
Fox said defending her title had been a significant challenge, dealing with the pressure of having a target on her back and handling the weight of expectation in a similar vein to 400m freestyle double winner Titmus and dual 100m backstroke champion McKeown.
“It’s pretty special to be able to back it up,” she said.
“I’ve definitely been inspired by Ariarne and Kaylee the other night, who were dominating in the pool.
“I love our team. It’s so special to be a part of this Olympic team, and bring another one of these (gold medals) home for us.
“They’ve (records) never felt attainable or even something that I could possibly dream about.
“Each Olympic experience that I’ve had has been very different – some have been brilliant, some have been a bit disappointing, and this is just magical.
“But to be named amongst some of Australia’s greatest champions in Olympic history is just – I can’t quite believe it.”
Outside of Titmus and McKeown, only Olympic legends Shirley Strickland and Dawn Fraser had defended their gold medals in an individual event before Fox joined them with her efforts on Thursday morning (WA time).
German Elena Lilik posted a daunting marker in the final with a time of 103.54 seconds, which was three seconds quicker than Fox’s semifinal time.
Although Fox wobbled out of the gate and found herself behind Lilik’s time by 0.47 seconds at the first split, the 30-year-old’s class and experience then began to shine through.
Fox powered through the middle section of the daunting circuit to put herself in the lead by more than two seconds.
By the time she crossed the line, she had her arms aloft posting a stunning 99.06 – and finished as the only athlete in the field to go under 100 seconds.
Fox embraced her mother and coach Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi and her younger sister Noemie upon having her fate sealed as champion, while father Richard beamed in his role as a broadcast analyst.
“I think it’s the most remarkable thing she’s ever done,” he said.
Fox will next week have the opportunity to shoot for a hat-trick of gold medals in Paris when she competes in the new kayak cross event, where she’ll be on the water alongside her sister.
In Australian Olympic history, only Shane Gould has managed to snare three individual golds at the one Games – in Munich in 1972.
