Jessica and Noemie Fox are the great sibling sparring partners who loom as one of the biggest stories of the Paris Olympics.
After winning her breakthrough gold medal at the Tokyo Games, Jessica could sweep the canoe slalom and kayak slalom this time, plus she’s a favourite in the new kayak cross event.
Winning three individual gold medals at the one Olympics would put Jessica into rare company – the only other Australian to achieve the feat is swimming great Shane Gould in 1972.
Noemie is making her Olympic debut in the kayak cross and is also giving Jessica a fresh perspective at her fourth Games.
“The overriding emotions are definitely pride … to wear the green and gold finally,” Noemie said on Sunday in Paris.
“It’s not just (Australian uniform) hand-me-downs, which I’ve always appreciated.
“To join Jess on the Olympic team is so amazing – I feel like I bring that fresh blood to her, for her to see all the firsts is really exciting … to live the experience together.
“We’ve made great sparring partners and we’ve both pushed each other forward, quite a long way. There’s something special about being able to just lash out on her.”
But these are sisters who clearly are more allies than rivals. Sitting next to each other at an Australian team media conference in Paris on Sunday, they were clearly at ease in each other’s company.
“As the older sister I’ve tried to go at her. She’s just so calm that after a while you stop fighting because you’re not getting the response that you’re after,” Jessica, 30, said.
“She’s tough – I don’t like going head-to-head in racing with Noemie, she’s a very fierce competitor.
“In training it’s been so great having each other, because we push each other.
“We haven’t had any bad days – there was one day where I charged on me and she wasn’t expecting it. She was a bit annoyed at me.”
After winning Olympic gold, Jessica wondered whether she could maintain her motivation.
But she is in Paris determined to add another major chapter to her amazing career.
“For me, it’s still there … wanting to give it my best crack,” she said.
“That (the gold medal) can’t be taken away from me, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want another one.”
Roger Vaughan
(Australian Associated Press)