Australia’s Jessica Fox has made more canoeing history, becoming the first athlete to win three individual gold medals over a single weekend at an International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup.
The Tokyo Olympic gold medallist completed the hat-trick in Krakow on Sunday, taking out the kayak cross final to add to the kayak and canoe gold medals she won over the previous two days.
Switzerland’s Martin Dougoud won his first kayak cross gold medal in the men’s race and will head to Paris as one of the favourites when the event makes its Games debut.
Fox only decided late to make the journey to Krakow for the final ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup before Paris, and then admitted to feeling tired and flat ahead of her canoe competition.
But having already secured her 50th overall World Cup gold 24 hours earlier, her confidence was sky-high.
“This is incredible, so unexpected, I’m absolutely thrilled,” Fox said.
“This has been such a perfect weekend, I couldn’t have imagined it turning out like this. You never know what can happen in kayak cross, I really enjoyed myself.
“It was chaos early in the final, I just wanted to get a good start and then to stay clear headed throughout the race.”
Fox had already for the ninth time won both the canoe and kayak gold medals at a single World Cup, but now becomes the first athlete to win three finals.
Czech Tereza Kneblova took silver, ahead of Great Britain’s reigning world champion, Kimberley Woods.
In the men’s competition the exit at the semi-final stage of three-time world champion Joe Clarke of Great Britain through the race for gold wide open.
Dougoud took bronze behind Clarke at last year’s ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships, and held his form in a high-class Sunday final.
“The final was really tough, you always have to fight because you never really know what is happening,” Dougoud said.
“Sitting on the ramp you don’t think about things too much. In kayak cross it is sometimes a game of luck. Today was my day.”
Czech Vit Prindis finished second, with the current overall World Cup leader Mathurin Madore of France taking the bronze.
Sunday was the final day of international World Cup racing before the Paris Olympics, where kayak cross will make its eagerly-anticipated debut.
For all the results from today's competition, click here.
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