The strict new rules mean Australian Olympic gold medalist Jessica Fox will be denied the chance to compete alongside her sister at the Paris Games.
- Jessica Fox may end her sister Noemie’s Olympic dreams
- Follow the rule change of the International Olympic Committee
- Jessica Fox, 29, widely recommended to race C1 and K1 in Paris
- It means 26-year-old Noemie Fox is unlikely to run next year
Jessica Fox’s dreams of competing with her sister at the 2024 Paris Olympics have been dealt a crushing blow.
It follows recent changes by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the qualification process, which could see Noemie Fox being forced to give up her place for her older sister, who won gold at the Tokyo Games in the women’s final. Canoe Slalom C1. .
The sisters are set to compete in separate categories: enclosed canoe (C1) and kayak (K1), but they could interbreed.
Jess, 29, is a world champion in both disciplines and the new IOC rule could end the dreams of Noemie, 26, who has yet to make her Olympic debut.
She is a talented athlete in her own right, having won gold at the 2019 world championships in Spain.
In Paris, Jess has many recommendations to compete in the C1 and K1 events, but new rules set by the IOC dictate that any competitor who has qualified in C1 has to be left out of qualifying for the kayak event.
Jessica Fox’s dreams of competing with her sister at the 2024 Paris Olympics have been dealt a crushing blow (pictured after winning gold in the Women’s C1 Canoe Slalom at the Tokyo Games)
It follows recent changes by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the qualification process, which could force Noemie Fox to cede her place to her older sister (sisters shown together, above).
For Jess to compete for gold in the K1 event in Paris, she will need another Australian, who is predicted to be her brother, to earn a spot.
In essence, it means that the competitors will try to qualify the boat for the event, as opposed to themselves.
The decision will be in the hands of Padel Australia and the Australian Olympic Committee to decide which athlete will compete in which of the two categories.
Given Jess’s exploits in Tokyo, it’s likely she’ll get the nod, at her sister’s expense.
Paddle Australia’s national performance director, Kim Crane, admitted it’s a “really difficult” situation.
“It’s no different in the sense that the two girls are always competing, essentially, competing under the Australian umbrella, but they’re really lining up as individual athletes against each other,” she said. Seven Sport.
“That’s the beauty of their relationship – they support each other, but at the same time they know they’re willing to challenge each other to be the best they can be as individual athletes.
But there is no doubt that it is difficult. “In a normal team environment it’s hard, but when you’re fighting your sister it’s really hard.”
