The kayak cross heats saw Noemie Fox pip sister and two-time Paris 2024 gold medallist Jessica Fox to qualify for the quarter-finals.    

Here are some quotes from the day’s action at the Olympic Games.  

Joseph Clarke (Great Britain)

“Each race has its different challenges. As you get further through the competition, the competition intensifies. Some people are great starters, so you've got to compete with them. Some people are better on the upstream, so you just need to look at who you're in the round with and try to pitch the race around that.”

Finn Butcher (New Zealand)

“Good to get that one out of the way, another fast start, so it was nice to be out in front and avoid the carnage. I looked back a couple of times and it looked messy. It’s chaos, that's what it is, but I was happy to be away from it and at the front, it couldn't have been better really.”

Titouan Castryck (France)

“Every day is really a joy to start at this stadium, so I am just enjoying it so much, and I hope it will continue like that. We'll look at the other competitors, especially for the starting place on the run, and we'll adapt a lot of the race plan because of that.”

Boris Neveu (France)

“Very happy. I will be there in first position. Everything is OK for the moment, so I hope it will be the same tomorrow. It's crazy because in my first Olympics in Tokyo there was nobody in the crowd and then today it's full. It's very good for me and the French team and the other paddlers.”

Noemie Fox (Australia) 

“I wanted to have another good start, which I did. It was hard to see Jess and I were lined up together right from the start. We were hoping to meet further down the track. I just thought, 'Get out, get out, get out'. And then when I saw she (Jessica) did not make it, it was more like heartbreak than celebration. I am really excited to be in the quarterfinals.”

Jessica Fox (Australia)

“I just didn't pull out my best race. It was tough off the start. I got really tangled, and I was trying to chase. I turned fourth, and climbed up one spot, and almost pulled off the overtake at the last gate. "That's kayak cross, and you can have a plan, but nothing goes to plan. I'm gutted, but at the same time, when you see your little sister win the heat, I was really proud of her.”

Kimberley Woods (Great Britain)

“Made a little mistake on the roll, but I kept calm in the moment, and I was really happy to get first place at the finishing line. I was definitely up at half three in the morning thinking about who I am up against, but it's just about distracting myself. We will have a bit of time tomorrow to look at the race runs from today and go from there.”