Jess Fox, one of Australia’s most accomplished athletes — a triple Olympic gold medallist and 14-time world titlist — recently experienced a serious scare. Consequently, she was unable to lead the Australian team into the ICF Slalom World Championships in Penrith. The 31-year-old athlete had to have surgery after a tumor was found on her kidney during an MRI, a month ago. While this was a big blow, Fox is still optimistic about her recovery and continuing to cheer on her teammates through the competition.
Fox’s health issues prevented her from being competitive at the World Championships. The unfortunate side effect was that she had to miss the remainder of the World Cup season. While she couldn’t race, she said she still wanted to be involved and planned to fly out as a volunteer. “I still get to be part of it in a different way and that I should enjoy it, embrace it, be grateful to be able to be well enough to be there and supporting everyone else,” she stated.
Recovery and Future Plans
Once she had her surgery, Jess Fox jumped headfirst into her recovery process. She remains positive about her career and future in the sport. She said there is no official timeline for her return, though she is slowly starting to get back into training. I’m doing great and starting to get back into the flow of things. I’m still very much on the team, just in a different capacity. Beyond that, it’s crucial for me to stay happy on this never-ending journey and to recognize my own accomplishments.
Although she’s thrilled to be back on the water, she’s returning with an abundance of caution. So I’m going to ease into it at this point. I just want to make sure that I’m doing the right things as I continue to build back up,” she added. Fox anticipates returning to the water soon, hinting, “There’s no set return date yet, but in the next couple of weeks, I think I’ll be back having a float on the flat water.
Cheering for the Next Generation
Though she may not be competing, fox’s commitment to her teammates is unwavering—especially as the 2023 spotlight shines on rising star Codie Davidson. The 18-year-old Davidson will race the kayak cross at the world championships. “I just want her to sit up there on that kayak cross and breathe it all in, look out to her family and friends and know that she’s got all the support of everyone around her,” Fox shared.
Fox was rightfully beaming as she highlighted her sister Noémie Fox’s stellar achievements. Noémie has already won an Olympic gold medal in kayak cross and is training hard for the next games. “Noémie’s been looking good at training, racing the three categories: kayak, canoe, and kayak cross, and it’s a big program Monday to Saturday,” Fox remarked.
Fox was excited at the prospect of Noémie’s new struggles. She added, “She’s going to have to learn how to pace herself and learn how to play the game for each round so I’m really excited for her! She recognized the pressure Davidson will face as she steps up to compete against seasoned athletes: “She’s a Junior World Championship medallist in the kayak cross and stepping up to race against the big girls is going to be daunting, but it’s exciting and I hope she can enjoy the moment and soak it all up.”
A New Role
Based on her strength and determination, Jess Fox is no longer just an athlete. She really encourages, supports and claps for her teammates. This time, I’m a big sister and a believer. If I’m there with my great big sign, I’m going to be the spirit squad cheerleader,” she continued excitedly. Despite this being an extremely difficult time for her, Fox is concentrated on staying positive and keeping the team morale high.
“This has been a tremendous awakening and a tremendous thing to process,” she recapped on her recent health scare. Fully of positive energy and a positive spirit, Fox can’t wait to see her teammates shine at the World Championships. In the meantime, she continues to look toward her own path of recovery, stay grounded.
