Dual Olympic medallist Jessica Fox has overcome a severe throat infection and Rio Olympian Ian Borrows a limited preparation to post wins in the finals of the Australian National Slalom Championships at Penrith.
Fox, a former Blaxland High student, won the women’s K1 (single kayak) and C1 (single canoe) titles on Friday, less than a day after being prescribed antibiotics.
“I wasn’t feeling 100 per cent, so it was good to still be able to push myself and race well,” the 22-year-old said.
She finished almost eight seconds ahead of NSW paddler Ros Lawrence in the K1 final, with Fox’s sister Noemie taking the bronze, and then more than five seconds ahead of her younger sister in the C1, with Lawrence taking the bronze.
Fox will be increasing her C1 focus this year, with the discipline making its debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“In 2015/2016 the focus was all on the K1, and it was just about maintaining my level in C1 doing it once a week or so, but this year i’m excited to try and really work on my C1,” Fox said.
And in the men’s events after some close racing in the qualifying rounds, Lapstone resident Ian Borrows won the C1 title.
“I was feeling very rusty. I am coming off a pretty big break. I kept my fitness up but hadn’t been paddling much,” the 27-year-old said.
The biggest upset on the final day was in the men’s K1, where Victoria’s Tim Anderson edged out Rio Olympian Lucien Delfour from Penrith for the gold medal.
