Australia's three-time Olympic slalom canoe champion Jess Fox has revealed she underwent surgery to remove a tumour from her kidney last week. The 31-year-old, who won gold at both the Tokyo and Paris Games, said she suffered post-surgery complications but is now recovering well.
In a statement on Thursday, Fox described the past few weeks as a “whirlwind”. She said: “I’m all good – just a couple of gnarly new scars, a bit less kidney, and a whole lot more toughness. I’m feeling positive and looking forward to heading home, focusing on recovery, and then building towards being back on the water again.”
As a result of the surgery, Fox will miss the remaining World Cup events in Europe. She plans to return to Australia to concentrate on her recovery before resuming training.
Fox is one of Australia's most decorated Olympians, with six medals including three golds. In Paris, she won gold in both the canoe slalom and kayak singles, and her clash with sister Noémie in the kayak cross was a highlight of the Games.
Australian Olympic Committee president Ian Chesterman expressed full support for Fox, saying: “Jess is an incredibly resilient person and she has faced this latest challenge with her renowned determination and fight. We can’t wait to see her back in action.”
