Now Jessica has sights set on Tokyo gold
JESSICA FOX has vowed to return for the 2020 Olympics in a bid to end her wait for a gold medal.
The Australian, whose father, Richard competed for Great Britain in the K1 at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, finishing fourth, and was a five-time World Champion, put in a storming display to win a bronze medal in the women’s K1 kayak competition.
The 22-year-old picked up a two-second penalty in the final, but was still able to clock a time of 102.49 on her way to winning another Olympic medal.
She won silver four years ago in London, but this time had to settle for third.
She said: “The dream was the gold medal, but I will have to return in four years’ time. My mother Myriam, who is my coach, has been through the whole ride. My father also.
“But I’m more motivated than ever. I was the fittest I’ve ever been and I was paddling the best I’ve ever been paddling. It’s really encouraging and motivating.
“Four years is a long time, but a lot happened between London and Rio and I’m looking forward to it. That’s one of my best events as well. It’s a good thing in a way that I didn’t win the gold medal because now what? This is motivating and I’m definitely hungry for Tokyo.”
Fox produced one of the surprises of the 2012 London Games as the 18-yearold paddled to silver in the K1 event, outgunning all but one of her more experienced rivals.
She had high hopes of going one better than her previous exploits.
But this time she found Luuka Jones of New Zealand and Spain’s gold medallist Maialen Chourraut standing in her way, even though during the medal ceremony officials appeared to muddle up the two similar flags, raising Australia’s to the second place on the pole above New Zealand.