DAD DOWN, MUM TO GO FOR JESSICA
CANOEING: Australia’s Jessica Fox has become the most successful individual paddler in the history of the sport, knocking off her dad Richard for the title.
And now she’s got her sights set on her mother.
The 24-year-old won her sixth individual title on the penultimate day of the 2018 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Rio, her time in the K1 final more than two seconds faster than the next best, Great Britain’s Mallory Franklin.
She was scheduled to compete in the women’s C1 final this morning. She’s unbeaten in the discipline this year.
Her six individual world titles moves her clear of a crowded leaderboard, which included father Richard, who won five for Great Britain.
A seventh individual world title would make it eight in total, with one team gold, drawing her level with mum Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi, who won eight world championship gold medals for France across both individual and team competitions.
Fox said her latest win was some compensation for the disappointment of finishing third at the Rio Olympics. Games gold still eludes her.
“I had a bit of unfinished business after the Olympics. I left a bit frustrated with my paddling,” she said.
“I just wanted to come here and be free, and really unleash in that final, and I think I did that. So I couldn’t be happier.
“I’m loving this sport, I’m enjoying myself, and I think that’s the most important thing – to love what you do.
“These world titles have all been so special, and today is extra-special.
“I had a great season at the World Cups and this is just the icing on the cake. I’m so happy and so proud to put that run down today.”