- Will miss world championships in Penrith
- Follows kidney surgery for canoe superstar
An ‘absolutely devastated’ Jessica Fox will miss this year’s Canoe Slalom World Championships in Sydney as the three-time Olympic gold medallist continues her recovery from surgery.
Fox, 31, announced in August she had endured some complications after a tumour was removed from her left kidney.
She withdrew from the last two rounds of the European World Cup circuit after winning gold medals in the first three legs in Spain, France and Czechia, and has now confirmed she will miss the world championships at the Whitewater course in Penrith.
It will be the first time since 2010 that Fox, who has snared 14 world titles across her decorated career, will miss the world championships, which start on September 29.
‘I’m absolutely devastated to be missing this one,’ she posted on Instagram.
‘World championships on my home course where I first watched my heroes at the Sydney Olympics (in 2000), saw the first Aussie world title by Rob Bell in 2005, the course where I’ve grown up and learnt to paddle, trained every day to be the best.
Jessica Fox will miss this year’s Canoe Slalom World Championships in Sydney as the three-time Olympic gold medallist continues her recovery from surgery
Fox, 31, announced in August she had endured some complications after a tumour was removed from her left kidney
After confirming she won’t compete, Fox also posted on Instagram that at times ‘life has a way of throwing curveballs when we least expect them’
‘A home worlds is a once in a career opportunity and I was so excited and looking forward to it.
‘Life has a way of throwing curveballs when we least expect them, but I’ve learned that while we can’t always control what happens, we can always choose our attitude and perspective.
‘Timing is everything. This time, the timing just wasn’t on my side.’
Fox also posted an emotional Instagram story where she shed tears after revealing she has ‘major FOMO (fear of missing out).’
‘I am itching to be back out there,’ she said.
‘I have major FOMO, but I’m taking care of myself and I’ve still got quite a few weeks left of my recovery.
‘It’s tough, but it is what it is. I’ve got to move on and focus on my recovery and getting back on the water when the time is right when I’m fit and healthy and strong.
‘It will be a spectacular event. ‘I may not be racing, but you can bet I’ll be the best cheerleader I can be.’
Fox carried the Australian flag at the Paris Games last year and won two gold medals, while her sister Noemie took home gold in the slalom kayak cross final.
