- Richard Fox left the Nine commentary box to congratulate his daughter
- Jessica Fox won her second gold medal at the Paris Olympics
- Her father was on the phone with Eddie McGuire
Richard Fox gave up his Channel 9 commentary duties to congratulate his daughter Jess after another incredible Olympic victory.
Following her victory in the K1 slalom this week, Australian flag bearer Fox swept past her rivals to win another gold medal at the C1 event in Paris.
Richard, a former canoeist who represented Great Britain during his career, was reporting on all the action for Channel 9 with Eddie McGuire, but after her win he ran like a madman to hug his daughter.
“Goodbye Eddie McGuire,” he said as he left the broadcast booth.
He did the same when Fox won K1 on Sunday, and TV giant McGuire fully understood the move.
A proud Richard later told Nine: “It’s unbelievable, we have no idea what’s going on back home but we’ve seen so many Australians in the audience and they keep turning up, it’s unbelievable.
‘Jess was moved by it on Sunday.
“…I think that’s the hardest and most remarkable thing she’s done. Hopefully those in the sport will see it the same way.”
Jessica Fox’s father Richard ran from the Channel 9 commentary box to see his daughter
Fox was triumphant again in Paris as she won the C1 slalom final on Wednesday
Fox has won more individual Olympic medals than any other Australian
Jess’s mother, Myriam, added: ‘In canoe slalom, no one will beat her any time soon.’
Fox is the first Australian athlete to win six individual Olympic medals, surpassing swimmers Shane Gould, Ian Thorpe and Leisel Jones, sprinter Shirley Strickland and current chef de mission cyclist Anna Meares, who have won five each.
The 30-year-old Sydneysider is looking to make more history and is aiming for a gold triple in Paris, joining Gould in 1972 as the only Australian to win three individual gold medals at a single Olympic Games.
With canoecross now added to the 2024 programme, French-born Fox is the hot favourite to pull off the rare feat. The medal will be presented on Monday.
Fox was already the most successful female canoe slalo athlete of all time, having now won three golds, one silver and two bronzes from four Games, having made her debut at London 2012.
Just like in her convincing victory in Tokyo, when C1 was added to the program, Fox cleared the field.