Paddle Australia has confirmed the selection of Jessica Fox for the upcoming International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup Series and World Championships.
The three-time Olympic gold medallist is set to return to competition after undergoing season-ending surgery last year.
A squad of 15 Australian athletes were selected following performances at the Penrith Open and Australian Open in early 2026.
Fox missed both events but has been named in the team and is expected to make her comeback at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
“She is back training, and we’re excited for her much anticipated return to the rapids this international season,” said Brendan Purchell, National Performance Director for Paddle Australia.
Fox was ruled out during the latter stages of the 2025 season after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour from her kidney, which also forced her to miss her home World Championships in Sydney.
The Australian star is expected to compete across three events this season: women’s canoe, women’s kayak, and kayak cross.
The 15-strong team also features Kaylen Bassett and Kate Eckhardt, who claimed world bronze medals in men’s C1 and women’s K1, respectively.
Purcell said the team carried “immense experience” and paddlers with the taste of World Championships success.
“The experience will provide great motivation for all our paddlers, including debutants Merle Long and Ada Mackie, as we compete at the LA28 Olympic venue,” said Purcell.
“We’re confident this team can achieve more World Championship glory and give Aussie fans something to look forward to in two years' time.
“The World Cup season starts with three weekends of action-packed racing which will be a great test for our athletes ahead of the World Championships. Our World Cup teams have a terrific mix of experienced paddlers and rising stars of our sport who will only improve further with increased international experience.
“Congratulations to all paddlers on their selection. We can’t wait to see our Canoe Slalom athletes go from strength to strength on the world stage this season.”
