Australian stars, including Paris 2024 Olympic champion Jessica Fox, ruled the roost in the women’s canoe final at the 2025 Canoe Slalom AUS Open.
More than 135 athletes from 21 nations competed in the event over the weekend at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium, the venue for the 2025 International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Championships to be held in October.
Fox crossed the line in 102.10 to take the C1 gold medal, followed by compatriot Kate Eckhardt in 103.51, while Kayak cross Olympic champion and the former’s sister Noemie Fox bagged bronze in 106.87.
“It’s always nice to race at home, and to race with the girls and to stay home with a 1, 2, 3,” Jessica Fox said.
“A clean sweep – we’ve been training together for so long and racing together for so long and we don’t often get to do that together.
“So it’s very special to see them paddling so well – Kate put down such a great time in that final early on, and to see Noemie put down a solid run. I think that’s exciting, obviously with Worlds in October to see that we’re paddling well here.”
Two Aussies featured on the men’s C1 podium as well, but it was Czechia’s Vaclav Chaloupka who cruised to the title in 90.31 at the ICF World Ranking race.
Tristan Carter with a timing of 92.92 and Kaylen Bassett on 94.69 got silver and bronze, respectively.
The women’s kayak final saw Germany’s Tokyo 2020 champion Ricarda Funk seal the title in 95.83.
Noemie Fox got silver and Paris 2024 bronze medallist Evy Leibfarth of the United States finished third in 99.18.
There was more international flavour in the kayak cross finals as Kimberley Woods of Great Britain and Leo Vuitton of France won the respective women’s and men’s titles.
Woods got the better of France’s Camille Prigent in second and Andorran Monica Doria in third.
Among men, Vuitton claimed gold beating Spain’s David Llorente and French teammate Mathurin Madore.
“I tried to give it my all and in the end, it was a super good win and I’m proud of myself today,” Vuitton said.
“This is my first time in Australia, and I’ve had really good conditions to train on the whitewater, and also to fight with other countries in the kayak cross.
"When I see the gates, I try to have some key points but after that I have no tactics, it all depends on the configuration of the race and I try to make my choice and to focus on it,” he said.
Pictures by Paddle Australia.
Related links
