PARIS, France – Nobody can cheer us on while still criticizing us quite like our parents. I’m sure Australian Jessica Fox was feeling mixed emotions when she learned her dad would be one of the commentators for the Olympic K1 canoe slalom at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but it created what might be the best moment we’ve seen from the Olympics so far. Richard Fox, Jessica’s dad, watches and comments as she competes in her fourth Olympics, with the hopes of adding a gold to her collection of one silver and two bronzes. As she completes a near flawless run, you can hear the pride and joy shining in her father’s voice.
Richard Fox was a kayak slalom athlete himself, winning 10 world championships between 1979 and 1993 (5 in K1M individual, 5 in K1M team) while competing for Great Britain. He also competed in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, where he finished fourth. In 1998, he moved to Australia to become the Head Coach for Australian Canoeing, and he served as Vice President for the International Canoe Federation for a four year term.
You can hear him switch from being a commentator to being a coach/father in the middle of the race. He goes from saying what she’s doing, to saying what he needs to do. And then, when defending champion Ricarda Funk touches the gate, you can see him trying to contain his excitement. Very cute moment. Congrats to Jessica Fox and, of course, to Richard!
