8 hours ago
Highs and lows as Fox takes gold from World Cup opener
Three-time Olympic champion Jessica Fox has finished the opening canoe slalom World Cup of the year in Spain with mixed fortunes, unable to add another medal to her C1 triumph.
Jessica and younger sister Noemie took on the kayak cross event on the final day of competition at La Seu d'Urgell, which hosted racing for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
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Noemi, the reigning Olympic champion from Paris last year, was eliminated in the first round after an error negotiating the fourth gate.
Olympic champion Jessica Fox celebrates after setting the pace in the C1 World Cup event in Spain. (HANDOUT/PADDLEAUSTRALIA)
Jessica made it through to the semi-finals but placed third, just missing qualification for the four-paddler final, which was won by France's Olympic silver medallist Angele Hug.
Looking to build toward a title at the world championships on her home course in Penrith in September, Jessica won gold in the C1 after turning in a shocker in the K1.
In the kayak, she was docked a massive 54 seconds in penalties to finish third last in the 51-strong field.
But the 30-year-old showed her composure to regroup for the canoe event and despite qualifying for the final in ninth spot she blitzed the field in the medal race.
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Fox finished 4.10 seconds clear to claim her 34th World Cup gold medal in the event ahead of Czech Mren Lazkano despite being penalised two seconds for nudging a gate.
Noemie placed 20th after finishing an admirable ninth in the K1.
"I'm super happy with that final. It was great to get out there and put out a fast run so it's a great way to start the season," said Jessica, who admitted her preparation had been affected by other commitments since winning both the C1 and K1 gold medals in Paris.
"It's a new format, with one heat and then straight into the final and it didn't go so well in the kayak and I was quite disappointed so I wanted to come back and put down some good paddling.
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"To win on the first World Cup is a great start but still four more races to go for the World Cup series and then the world championships is the main goal of the year."
In the men's K1 event Australia's Lucien Delfour had one of his best World Cup performances to win bronze.
Delfour had the fastest time of the day but was relegated to third behind Frenchmen Titouan Castryck and Anatole Delassus due to a gate penalty.
