Fox overcomes heartbreak to claim first gold

Australia’s Jess Fox has bounced back from her heartbreak in the K1 slalom, claiming a gold medal in the C1 event.

The 27-year-old went into the final as the red-hot favourite, having comfortably set the fastest time in the semi-finals.

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But as she found out on Tuesday, the semi-finals count for nothing when the medals are handed out. After having had to settle for Bronze in the K1, Fox was magnificent in the C1, finally earning the title of Olympic champion.

Having won silver in London (2012) and bronze in Rio (2016), as well as her bronze in Tokyo, Fox now has a gold medal to complete the set.

The last of the 10 competitors in the final, Fox knew she had to improve on her semi final time to topple Great Britain’s Mallory Franklin, who had clocked 108.68, a time that included two penalty seconds.

But the seven-time world champion was flawless, one of just two competitors in the final who didn’t incur penalty seconds, stopping the clock in 105.04.

“I know it was a tough couple of days, mentally, emotionally, it took everything out of me,” Fox said after the win.

“To put down a run that I was so proud of, I’m over the moon.”

Just 48 hours ago Fox had felt the despair of having what seemed a certain gold medal ripped from her grasp, after starting the K1 final as the favourite, but two penalties meant she had to settle for the bronze.

“We talk about pressure, but what happened in the K1 final shattered her,” her father, Richard, himself a former Olympian, said on Seven.

“I’m just so happy for her, to deliver that performance, at that level, in that moment, it’s so hard to do.”

It’s Australia’s eighth gold of the Tokyo Games, equalling the total won in both London and Rio.

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