Olympic gold medallist Noemie Fox is determined to seize her moment in the spotlight on home waters as Sydney, Australia stages the International Canoe Federation Slalom World Championships for the first time since 2005.
With three-time Olympic champion and Australian superstar Jessica Fox unable to compete as she recovers from surgery, all eyes will be on her younger sister.
Noemie Fox is no stranger to delivering on the biggest stage having made history in Paris last year when she became the first-ever winner of the women’s kayak cross at the Olympic Games.
And the 28-year-old, who is a two-time world champion in the team events, is eager to rise to the occasion again.
Click here for live startlists and results from Sydney
Fox is set to feature on every day of competition, which will run from Monday to Saturday, as she fights for medals in canoe, kayak and kayak cross events.
“It’s extremely special for me,” said Fox.
“I’m really trying to approach the World Championships with a lot of excitement and building on that once-in-a-career opportunity and trying to arrive as fresh as possible.
“It’s so exciting to see so much activity.
“To see so many athletes just enjoying the area and going out and about and to obviously see the vision come to life – we’ve been dreaming and waiting for this moment for a long time.
“It’s really starting to hit home that it’s happening, and it does fill me with a lot of excitement.
“Obviously the nerves are there, the pressure is there, but I’m really wanting to be in the best form and to channel that excitement.
“I want to enjoy and really focus on the opportunity because time flies so fast and I really want to be enjoying these home World Championships as much as I can and being in the moment.”
Without Jessica Fox in the field, the women’s competition has been blown wide open.
Great Britain’s Kimberley Woods has hit fantastic form, winning golds in the final two ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Series events of the season to capture the overall titles in C1 and K1.
“I have got the evidence there to back up what I have always believed in, knowing that I can win races,” said the double Olympic medallist.
“I can take a lot of confidence from but every race is different and every course is different.
“That’s the beauty of our sport.
“Anyone on that start-line can win which makes it really exciting.
“I feel good but we will see what happens on the day.”
Woods is also looking to defend the women’s kayak cross crown following her success at the last World Championships in London in 2023.
“This season hasn’t been what I wanted in kayak cross,” added Woods.
“The girls have definitely improved and I don’t feel like I have got as much of a target on my back anymore in kayak cross which feels quite nice but I am looking forward to it.”
Woods’ British teammate Joseph Clarke will be out to retain two titles after winning K1 and kayak cross golds two years.
Clarke is seeking to win the kayak cross world crown for the fourth time in succession.
France will have high hopes of achieving success in Australia after a fine season on the World Cup circuit.
Titouan Castryck and Anatole Delassus have been battling it out in the men’s K1, while Nicolas Gestin has been in sensational form in the men’s C1.
Italy’s Giovanni De Gennaro, who gave birth to his first child earlier this month, is seeking to add world gold to his Olympic crown in K1.
“I became a father for the first time a few weeks ago,” said De Gennaro.
“It’s a very big step in my life but I am also enjoying being here and focusing on kayaking.
“I am enjoying this moment but I am also happy when I get home and can start this new chapter of my life.”
The first world titles will be awarded on Monday with the men’s and women’s kayak cross individual.
This will be followed by the canoe teams on Tuesday, kayak teams on Wednesday, kayak on Thursday, canoe on Friday and kayak cross on Saturday.
Full coverage of the ICF Slalom World Championships can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
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