Australian Jess Fox wins gold in extreme kayak final at canoe slalom world championships

Olympic champion Jess Fox has bolstered her medal haul, winning gold and silver on the final day of racing at the canoe slalom world championships in Germany.

The record-breaking Australian successfully defended her world title in the extreme slalom event after coming second in the women’s canoe earlier in the day.

Fox edged Great Britain’s Kimberley Woods while Andorra’s Monica Doria Vilarrubla claimed the bronze medal.

Extreme canoe slalom will premiere as an Olympic event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and with back to back world titles, Fox is firming as the favourite.

The Olympic C1 champion was pipped in that event for less than one second by German Andrea Herzog while Great Britain’s Mallory Franklin rounded out the podium.

Those three paddlers were the medal winners at the Tokyo Olympics, although Fox then beat Franklin for gold.

The performances brought her overall world championships medal tally to three after already winning silver in the women’s kayak on Saturday.

“It’s been an amazing weekend here in Augsburg,” Fox said.

“For the kayak and the canoe, it was always going to be really tough to beat the Germans on their home course and I wanted to give it the best shot I could.

“I’m really pleased with the way I raced.”

Fox was joined in the C1 final by her younger sister Noemie Fox, who finished a strong eighth.

In July, the 25-year-old won silver in the extreme slalom at the International Canoe Federation (ICF) World Cup in Poland.

Tasmanian Kate Eckhardt narrowly missed the final in 13th place in her first ever world championships women’s canoe semi-final.

Tim Anderson completed Australia’s representation, placing eighth in the men’s extreme kayaking event.

With one gold and two silver medals Australia placed fourth on the overall medal rankings.