Jess Fox’s mother clashed with an Olympic official moments after her superstar daughter’s victory in the C1 canoe final on Wednesday.
The rowing champion will now be named alongside the country’s all-time greatest Olympians after creating her own piece of Australian Games history with a stunning C1 slalom gold.
It could hardly be more meritorious.
After his great triumph in the K1, Fox secured another convincing victory on the whitewater circuit at the Stade Nautique de Vaires-sur-Marne on Wednesday.
Fox’s parents, Richard and Myriam, were thrilled with the performance, and Myriam could have knocked a referee into the water while celebrating.
He was so overjoyed that he jumped up and down waving his hands, accidentally hitting an official, before apologising and running off to hug his daughter.
Fox became the first Australian athlete to win six individual Olympic medals, surpassing swimmers Shane Gould, Ian Thorpe and Leisel Jones, sprinter Shirley Strickland and current chef de mission, cyclist Anna Meares, who each have five.
Ariarne Titmus also joined the elite group, winning her fifth individual event in Paris.
Jessica Fox (pictured) won her second gold medal at the Paris Olympics, taking back-to-back C1 canoe slalom titles.
Fox’s mother, Myriam, was so excited with the result that she collided with an official (pictured)
“I never thought those records were attainable or something I could even dream of,” said Fox, who is now also the most prolific Olympic medal winner in her sport.
‘Every Olympic experience I’ve had has been very different – some have been brilliant, some have been a bit disappointing and this is just magical.
“But to be named amongst some of the greatest Australian champions in Olympic history is just… I can’t believe it.”
The 30-year-old from Sydney is seeking more history and a golden treble in Paris as she bids to join Gould in 1972 as the only Australians to win three individual gold medals at a single Olympics.
With canoe cross being added to the 2024 programme, French-born Fox will start as the heavy favourite to achieve the rare feat on Monday.
Kaylee McKeown could edge her out with gold in the 100m backstroke, a defence of her 200m backstroke crown on Friday and the 200m individual medley on Saturday, after adding that event to her Paris programme.
Fox now has a chance to claim three gold medals in the kayak event later in Paris.
Already the most successful canoe slalom athlete of all time, Fox now has three golds, one silver and two bronzes from four Olympic campaigns after making her debut at London 2012.
Much like its resounding victory in Tokyo, when C1 was added to the program, Fox swept the board.
Former German world champion Elena Lilik set the pace, stopping the clock in her clean run at 103.54 seconds.
Second to last on the course, Fox produced a spectacular race, with a time of 101.06 seconds, including a two-second penalty for brushing against a gate.
He knew immediately that he had done something special, slapping the water with his hands in delight.
“I was proud of that race… I felt like I did the best I could today,” Fox said.
‘I can’t wait to see the video… those kayak and canoe trips were trips I was really proud of.
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‘I think it was the mental state I was in, how calm I felt despite the pressure, despite the expectation, despite the time Elena Lilik had set, which was two seconds faster than the semi-final time, which was already quite fast.
‘Being able to maintain your composure is the best feeling an athlete can have – when you’ve worked so hard in training, you can deliver when it matters.
“That’s what we all work for, that day every four years.”
When her victory was confirmed after the last competitor, Czech Gabriela Satkova, completed her race, Fox was overwhelmed by her mother and coach Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi and younger sister Noemie, who will compete in kayak cross.
Young American Evy Leibfarth took bronze with a time of 109.95 seconds.
