Fox off the pace ahead of slalom kayak medal race
Melissa Woods |
Jessica Fox will paddle for her first K1 gold medal but will need to rediscover her best form after the Australian star qualified for the Paris Olympic final in eighth spot.
The 30-year-old Australian flag bearer is chasing an unprecedented three gold medals at the Paris Games, with the slalom kayak her first event in the whitewater program.
While she’s the reigning Olympic champion in the C1, Fox has won three medals in the K1 in her three previous Games but her best result is a silver medal in London in 2012.
Fox is attempting to win the K1, defend her C1 crown and will also chase gold in the kayak cross which is a new addition to the Olympic line-up in Paris.
After setting the best time in Saturday’s heat runs, Fox was below her best in the semi-final on Sunday afternoon (local time) at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.
She went through the course in 104.38 seconds, incurring a two second time penalty for clipping the 19th gate.
The final is at 5.45pm local time (0145 Monday AEST).
Reigning Olympic champion Ricarda Funk rebounded after two lacklustre heat runs with the German clocking 99.31 seconds despite also copping a penalty.
Poland’s Klaudia Zwolinska was third fastest in 99.84.
The semi-final result means that Fox will be fith down the course in the final among a 12-strong field, with Funk last.
AAP
