Paris Olympics 2024: Australian star Jess Fox achieves redemption, winning women’s kayak final

Jessica Fox went from crying tears of nerves to tears of joy after achieving redemption from Tokyo to romp to victory in the women’s kayak slalom final.

Fox had waited a lifetime for the ultimate success in the K1 class, enduring heartbreaking near-misses with bronze medals in the event at the past two Games and a silver in London in 2012.

But the 10-time world champion was forced to do it the hard way after a tough semifinal run, but she claimed gold with the fastest time of the day, 96.08 seconds, to outpoint silver medallist Klaudia Zwolinska by 1.45 sec.

Fox was forced to watch and wait as reigning Olympic gold medallist Ricarda Funk made a last-ditch attempt for victory, but a fatal error with a missed gate led to disaster for the German and sealed Fox’s long-awaited triumph.

“I was just happy to put down a good run, and then it was the longest wait of my life,” Fox said.

“When (Funk) made that mistake on gate 19, I knew.

“All the emotions came out.

“I’ve been crying. I was crying of stress and nerves sitting there (watching), and then I was crying of pure joy and emotion.”

It added to a dream start to French-born Fox’s Paris campaign, which began with a role as Australia’s flag bearer alongside Kookaburras great Eddie Ockenden.

Fox found herself in an unfamiliar position for the final, coming out of the gate as the fifth-fastest starter, having only just survived a jittery semifinal run.

But it provided the motivation she needed as she blitzed her final run, correcting her errors at the top and using her incredible upper-body strength to bully her way through the upstream gates.

Fox got caught slightly in the final upstream but powered through the finish to register the fastest run of the day.

The result meant that Fox became the first athlete in Australian Olympic history to snare medals in the same event at four successive Games - but this one was finally the colour she had been craving.

“That was the most incredible moment, I think, of my life,” Fox said post-race.

“That was amazing.

“It’s been the longest build-up... to do that finally, after all these years, is so special not only for me but my family.”

The win sparked scenes of jubilation as Fox’s significant family connections celebrated in Paris.

Fox’s mother and coach Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi punched the air while sister Noemie - who is set for her own kayak cross stint at the Games - was overcome with emotion.

Fox-Jerusalmi said she was thrilled that her oldest daughter had achieved something that she never could, having represented France in two Olympic Games in 1992 and 1996 and snaring bronze in the K1.

“I failed to bring the gold twice in the two Olympics I competed in, and I know how hard it is,” Fox-Jerusalmi said.

“So just to do it here in this stadium with the family, with the friends that came in, with the family and friends that are in Marseille, glued to the TV, it’s amazing.”

And father Richard was in the commentary box to round out the family feel.

“This is the one she wants to add to everything she’s got,” he said on Nine.

“I’m so proud.”

Great Britain’s Kimberley Woods snared the bronze medal in 98.94 sec.

Fox will now look to defend her C1 title and enhance her considerable legacy with victory in the new kayak cross event.

- with AAP