Jess Fox OAM, Richard Fox MBE Lluis Rabaneda Caselles. Photos by Noel Rowsell.
OLYMPIC gold medallist Jess Fox OAM hosted International Canoe Federation (ICF) Vice President Lluis Rabaneda Caselles to her training base at Penrith Whitewater Stadium on Tuesday, as the countdown to Paris 2024 Olympic Games continues.
A legacy venue of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Penrith Whitewater Stadium will play host to the World Canoe Slalom Championships in 2025.
Jess, who was recently named to her fourth Australian Olympic Team for the Paris Games, hosted Mr Caselles to showcase the venue’s operational upgrades ahead of the World Championships.
“I was here as a 6-year-old at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and again as an 11-year-old at the 2005 World Championships, so having the 2025 World Championships here is special for me,” Jess said.
“We have the Australian Open and the Oceania Championships here next year and we already have French and United States paddlers here, with others from Czechoslovakia and Great Britain also coming soon.
“We also have a new start ramp being installed for Kayak Cross, which will feature an auto-start facility.”
When asked about her current training schedule, Jess said “I’m currently spending fifty percent on Kayak and Canoe (9kg boats) and fifty percent on Kayak Cross (16kg boat).
“I’ll be fit, strong and robust come Paris.”
Lluis Rabaneda Caselles said this is his second time in Australia this year, having also visited in Jan/Feb.
“The ICF was a big driver for this venue (Penrith Whitewater Stadium).
“We (the ICF) are looking to improve relations with venues and people, focussing on several elements including High Performance, Maintenance and Safety.”
When asked about the upcoming Paris Olympic Games, he said “We had a lot of people in Paris at the World Cup and we’ve increased the capacity the stands.
“We’ve added two new medals being Men’s and Women’s Kayak Cross.”
In regards to the following two Olympic Games, he said “We are still waiting to be advised of the venues for LA in 2028. We will be located in Redlands in Brisbane in 2032 and it will be Australia’s second world-class (Canoe Slalom) venue.”
