It has been a year of accolades for Canoe Slalom stars and Paris 2024 gold medallists Jessica and Noemie Fox, with the latest recognition coming at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Inductions & Awards Gala Dinner.
The champion sisters won the Don Award in Melbourne, one of the most prestigious sporting prizes in their country.
Introduced in 1998 and named after the organisation’s inaugural inductee and cricket great, Sir Donald Bradman, the award honours an Australian athlete or team whose achievements over the past 12 months have “most inspired the nation”.
The paddlers became the first Australian siblings to win individual gold medals at the Olympic Games.
Jessica Fox won the coveted K1 and C1 double in the French capital before Noemie Fox triumphed in the kayak cross, as the event made its debut at the level.
The former has six Olympic medals including three golds while the latter won her first-ever in France, sparking emotional celebrations at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.
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“It’s so special and I know when I received the call, and then when I called (Noemie) afterwards, I said, ‘Do you realise what this means?’ It’s a massive honour,’’ Jessica Fox said.
“That’s just a symbolic representation of all your hard work paying off at the right time,’’ Noemie Fox added.
“Those are the ups you train for, and you just need to start executing it when it happens, and to do so at the end of such a long day of racing, and to do it better than in training.
“I don’t know if I had just this adrenaline rush, but for me that’s, I think, what I’m most proud of in my whole Olympic campaign is that moment. Handling pressure, crossing the line and just being in shock.’’
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Picture by Jessica Fox/Instagram.
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