Jessica Fox was all smiles after winning an Olympic silver medal. Photo: Steve Christo
Jessica Fox has put in the performance of a seasoned veteran to win an Olympic silver medal in the K1 canoe slalom final.
Of the seven competitors to follow Fox in the final, only France's Emilie Fer was able to better her blistering time of 106.51 on the Lee Valley White Water Course.
The 18-year-old celebrated from her kayak by wrapping herself in the Australian flag, receiving congratulations from parents Myriam and Richard.
"I wanted to get out [of the kayak], I didn't want to stay there," said Fox.
"It was really stressful to watch, you watch a few and then think at worst I'm fifth, at worst I'm fourth.
"I'm third, oh my God, I've won silver. It was a long wait, but I'd rather be waiting than not (in contention)."
The former Blaxland High School student had to battle for her place in the medal round during the semi-final earlier in the day.
Two time penalties threatened to cost her the necessary top 10 finish before she eventually qualified in eighth position.
"I just scraped in, my semi-final run wasn't fantastic," she said.
"I know I could improve on it [in the final]. I was pumped, I was ready to go and the crowd was amazing.
"I was soaking up the atmosphere at the start line, it was really special."
While narrowly missing out on the gold for Australia, the national anthem of Fox's birthplace did ring out as she stood on the podium with the French winner. It capped a remarkable story for the daughter of a Frenchwoman and Englishman who each won multiple European whitewater titles.
Fox managed to get one back for the family by relegating veteran Stepanka Hilgertova to fourth position - the Czech paddler won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games when Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi finished third.
- with Sydney Morning Herald