Fox sisters moved by sweet gesture
Olympian sisters Jess and Noemie Fox have had an island named after them after securing gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The NSW government on Wednesday unveiled the new name for the island at the centre of Penrith Whitewater Stadium in Greater Western Sydney.
The island will now be known as Fox Island, following the growing list of contributions to the paddling community by the entire Fox family.
Jess Fox has won three gold, one silver, and two bronze medals since her debut at the 2012 London Olympics, with her younger sister, Noemie, scoring her first gold medal this year in Paris.
Noemie won the kayak cross, with her sister jumping in the water to celebrate the huge victory.
The fresh name comes as the Albanese and NSW governments announced they would put forth $3.2m to Paddle Australia ahead of the International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Championships.
The event will be hosted at Penrith Whitewater Stadium – which recently underwent a $3.1m upgrade – between October 1-6 in 2025.
The Fox sisters have spent countless hours training at the stadium throughout their careers and are tipped to compete at the championships along with 300 competitors from 50 nations.
The championships will host 10 medal events, including canoe and kayak singles, canoe and kayak teams, and kayak cross.
Jess recalled watching the 2005 world championships at the stadium while speaking at a press conference on Wednesday.
“I remember being a little 10-year-old on that hill watching the world championships in 2005, so 20 years later you can see what the legacy is and what that impact can be and we can’t wait,” she said.
“It’s amazing coming back from Paris to have this support, to have this engagement with our sport, with our community. Looking forward to the world championships and bringing the world to Penrith.
“Not a lot of people can get to an Olympic Games, but we want to bring that atmosphere and that excitement and that energy here to this community so that everyone can feel that and enjoy that and this will definitely be a huge part of that.”
Noemie called the day a “full-circle moment” and expressed her excitement for the upcoming championships.
“We spent probably the most part of our life here in Penrith on those rapids on the side of the riverbank, so I think it’s a bit of a full-circle moment to have those world championships here,” she said.
“Hopefully, we can bring home a few more medals and also inspire future generations of kayakers that will tackle rapids as well like we did this morning.”
The event is expected to bring in 20,000 spectators, with NSW Premier Chris Minns hoping it could inspire younger generations to take up the sport.
“It was a real privilege for me this morning to spend some time on the water with Noemie and Jess as well as Tim Anderson, an Olympian in the sport, and enjoying what is, as Prue (Western Sydney Minister Pre Car) said, a crown jewel for Western Sydney,” Mr Minns said.
“This is a fantastic facility, this is a stadium that was well used in the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and since that time this piece of infrastructure has produced world and Olympic champions.
“My suspicion is that as a result of this world cup there may be people that bring their kids to the sport for the first time and in 10 years down the track will be representing their country at this amazing sport.”
