Reigning world champion Jessica Fox OAM will take winning form into the Paris Olympics, after taming an unruly Krakow course to take the Women’s Kayak (WK1), Canoe (WC1) and Kayak Cross titles at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup.

Jess’ feat of three gold medals at one World Cup meet was an historic moment, the first time the feat had ever been accomplished.

The WK1 win was the first kayak gold of the season for Jess, who finished just ahead of Rio 2016 champion Maialen Chourraut of Spain.

“I’m really happy, it was such a hard race,” Jess said.

“I’m just happy I was able to put down two good runs, that was my goal here, but it was a hard course which was super tough.”

The following day, Jess notched up her 50th individual gold medal of her International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup career, with a dominant victory in the women’s canoe (WC1) Final.

The Canoe win came despite a two-second penalty for a gate touch. Jess said she went into the race not certain if she would be able to show her best.

Courtesy of Paddle Photography / Paddle Australia.

“I felt really tired and flat today, so I’m just happy I was able to step up when I needed to,” she said.

“It’s been a great weekend, I’m really pleased to have been able to finish off with this win.

“It was really important for me to refocus after yesterday’s win, there are so many challenges on this course.”

Jess won her first World Cup title back in 2010. This was the 9th time she has won both the Kayak and Canoe titles at a single World Cup, having won her first canoe / kayak double in 2013 in Tacen, Slovenia.

This past weekend is also the second time Jess has won both titles in Krakow.

The Kayak Cross gold medal was simply the icing on the cake, further reinforcing Jess’ status as the greatest canoe slalom paddler of all time, and also throwing down the gauntlet to her rivals at the upcoming Paris Olympic Games, where she will now be hot favourite to dominate the three disciplines of Kayak, Canoe and Kayak Cross.

Following her Kayak Cross victory, Jess said “I feel incredible – this is so unexpected and I’m just so thrilled.

“You never know what could happen, especially in the Kayak Cross. My strategy was just to try and get a good start and to stay clear-headed throughout and make the right decisions.

“I took it step by step and really enjoyed myself out there. It was challenging – the final started and it was just chaos, I had to really fight and adapt the whole way.

Jess was almost speechless about her history-making feat, but said that she couldn’t be happier with how the weekend panned out.

“Winning three gold medals in one weekend had never been done before – I can’t believe I’ve just done it.

“To be able to race well in all three categories doesn’t happen very often, I’m really pleased with how I was able to put together those races today.

“It has just been the perfect weekend, I couldn’t be happier.

For me, these last three weeks have been a stepping stone on my path to Paris 2024.

“We’ll head to France now and really focus on that final stretch before the Games.”