“Wonder woman on the water”: Jess Fox’s golden moment
<p><span>For nine years, disappointment has shrouded Australian olympian Jess Fox.</span><br /><br /><span>But now, she has just become an Olympic gold winner in Tokyo for the first ever women’s C1 Olympic final on Thursday afternoon.</span><br /><br /><span>Fox is the first slalom paddler to win an Olympic medal of each colour in canoe and kayak events.</span><br /><br /><span>The world watched on as Britain’s Mallory Franklin initially took an early lead in the final by registering an astonishing time of 108.68.</span></p>
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<p><br /><span>Germany’s Andrea Herzog also impressed with a time of 111.13, which earned her a spot in the provisional silver medal position.</span><br /><br /><span>Brazilian athlete Ana Satila also had a solid time, but she sadly copped a brutal 50-second penalty for narrowly missing Gate 22.</span><br /><br /><span>Fox quickly passed the first checkpoint more than two seconds ahead of Franklin‘s time.</span><br /><br /><span>She briefly got stuck at Gate 15, however she showed her talent by quickly escaping from the white water at Kasai Canoe Slalom Centre.</span><br /><br /><span>Fox secured a historic gold medal with an unbelievable time of 105.04.</span><br /><br /><span>She was three seconds faster than anyone else.</span><br /><br /><span>“She is a wonder woman on the water. What a performance!” <em>Channel 7</em> commentator David Culbert cried.</span><br /><br /><span>Fox’s mother and coach could be seen embracing the champion moments after she completed her run.</span><br /><br /><span>Australia has reacted in pure elation, with Australian Paralympian Kurt Fearnley tweeting: “JESS FOX!!!!!!!! You are my freaking hero!!!!! So amazing!!!!”</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr">JESS FOX!!!!!!!! You are my freaking hero!!!!! So amazing!!!! 😭😭😭😭 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tokyo2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tokyo2020</a></p>
— Kurt Fearnley (@kurtfearnley) <a href="https://twitter.com/kurtfearnley/status/1420648484915400710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
<p><br /><span>Channel 7 reporter Tom Browne wrote: “I don’t think there has ever been a more deserved gold medal winner. Jess Fox is a legend. Completely compelling.”</span><br /><br /><span>Fox Sports presenter Sarah Olle shared her own message: “The Olympics are so cool because you become inexplicably happy for someone you don’t know. Thanks for the ear to ear smile, Jess.”</span><br /><br /><span>Aussie tennis star Dylan Alcott wrote: “JESS FOX YOU FLAT OUT LEGEND!!! OLYMPIC CHAMPION! Could not think of an athlete more deserving – an incredible athlete but an even better person. YES!”</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr">JESS FOX YOU FLAT OUT LEGEND!!! OLYMPIC CHAMPION!! Could not think of an athlete more deserving - an incredible athlete but an even better person. YES! <a href="https://twitter.com/jessfoxcanoe?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jessfoxcanoe</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tokyo2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tokyo2020</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/olympics?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#olympics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gold?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gold</a></p>
— Dylan Alcott (@DylanAlcott) <a href="https://twitter.com/DylanAlcott/status/1420648900738699268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
<p><br /><span>Fox promised she would return for the Paris Olympics in 2024.</span><br /><br /><span>“It was amazing to be a part of this women’s C1 event here in Tokyo for the first time ever,” she told <em>Channel 7</em>.</span><br /><br /><span>“It was a tough couple of days – mentally, emotionally, it took everything out of me. So to put down a run that I’m proud of, I’m over the moon.</span><br /><br /><span>“I hope we’ve inspired some girls and boys today … I felt the love over from Australia.”</span></p>
