Jessica Fox wins GOLD in Paris: Australian Olympic flag bearer gets campaign off to an incredible start with slalom kayak victory

Jessica Fox won gold at the Olympic Games in Paris.

The 30-year-old Australian flag bearer was chasing an unprecedented number of gold medals at the Paris Olympics. Slalom kayaking was her first event in the whitewater program.

And she put her all into it early Monday morning, flying through the whitewater and clocking an incredible time of 96.08 seconds to win the gold medal.

“That’s what you do, strong of mind, strong of paddle, she gave everyone something to chase… it was clean,” commentator Dave Culbert said on Nine.

“I am so proud of Jess… this is her best final attempt ever at the Olympics,” added her father Richard Fox.

Fox had to wait patiently on the sidelines as the rest of the field took to the track. Poland’s Klaudia Zwolińska undoubtedly had the Aussie’s heart in her throat as she completed her run, but she was just over a second slower than Fox and finished in silver.

The last competitor to challenge Fox was reigning champion Ricarda Funk. The German made a great start in the first half of the course in Vaires-sur-Marne.

However, a 50-second penalty for hitting a gate sealed Fox’s fate as the gold medal winner in Paris. The powerful German crowd was stunned by Funk’s failure.

Jessica Fox has won Olympic gold in the women’s kayak final

The Australian flag bearer tore through the course on Sunday afternoon

She faced a nervous wait, but her gold medal was secured after Ricardo Funk made a big mistake

Fox, the reigning Olympic C1 champion, had won three medals in K1 at her previous three Games, but her best result was a silver medal in London in 2012.

Her gold medal in Paris did not come easy. The world champion only qualified for the final with the eighth fastest time.

This meant that she finished fifth on the course instead of last, which is normally reserved for the fastest of the twelve athletes: Ricarda Funk, the German champion of the Tokyo Games.

After completing her fast run, Noemie, Fox’s sister who will compete in the kayak cross later in the week, jumped for joy and hugged the other members of the Australian contingent.

The Australian flag bearer is chasing an unprecedented number of gold medals at the Paris Olympics. Slalom kayaking is her first event in the whitewater program.

In addition to her breakthrough K1 victory, Fox will defend her C1 title and also be gunning for gold in kayak cross, a new addition to the Olympic programme in Paris.