Jess Fox OAM (WC1). File photo courtesy of Bence Vekassy / Paddle Australia.
THE announcement of the final award for the 2023/24 PNSW season did not surprise anyone, but it was fitting it would be the award which wrapped up the Sport’s yearly gongs.
Globally known as the GOAT (Greatest paddler of all time), Jess Fox OAM won the Female Paddler of the Year award for the 12th time in her distinguished career.
Penrith’s golden girl continues to represent NSW and Australia at the highest level and she also continues to be a great ambassador for the sport and excellent role model for the kids.
In addition to her domestic results, Jess’ international results included:
• Winning the Australian Open for both WK1 and WC1
• Placing 2nd in WK1 and 1st in WC1 at the Oceania Championships
• Winning both the WK1and WK1 teams event, along with placing third in WC1 at the 2023 World Championships
• Continuing to dominate on the World stage, becoming the first person to win 50 World Cup medals and the first person to win three gold medals at one World Cup event.
• Being selected to represent Australia at the Olympics for three events (WK1, WC1 and Women’s Kayak Cross).
Jess was also selected as the flag bearer for Australia at the Paris Olympics. She continues to inspire Australian paddlers of all disciplines, as well as the general public, through her positive attitude, drive and determination.
In a fitting finale to an unbelievable year, Jess completed the World Cup season on the weekend, winning a gold medal and claiming the overall 2024 Women’s World Cup Canoe (WC1) title at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Final in La Seu, Spain.
Jess had finished fifth in the Women’s Kayak (WK1) Final the previous night and was obviously determined not to let her rivals off so lightly in the Canoe Final.
After also finishing fifth in the WC1 semi-final, Jess rose to the occasion in the Final, putting down a time that her competitors found hard to chase, similar to her winning performance in the WC1 Final at the Paris Olympic Games.
Crossing the line in a time of 104.30 was enough for Jess to claim gold, just 0.11 seconds ahead of Czech Republic’s Gabriela Satkova in second place and Great Britain’s Kimberley Woods in third.
She rounded out the World Cup event in Spain with a 4th place finish in the Final of the Women’s Kayak Cross.
