Fox Makes Early Whitewater Statement

Raging hot favourite Jessica Fox is comfortably through to the semi-finals of K1 canoe slalom event in Rio.

The NSWIS paddler, who announced herself to the world when she won the silver medal in the same event in London four years ago goes into Thursday’s semis as the second fastest qualifier.

It wasn’t the perfect start for the 20 year old, ranked eighth after her first run. She powered through her second run though, incurring only a two-second penalty.

Fox will need to be placed in the top 10 to progress to the final.

NSWIS sailor Tom Burton has competed at an Olympics for the first time overnight and has turned in a solid debut in the Laser class.

Burton started with a nervous 17^th in first race but followed that with an eighth place result in race two.

He currently sits in equal ninth overall.

The Australian men’s water polo team, which features 8 NSWIS athletes, has grabbed a 9-all draw against Hungary.

NSWIS athlete and vice-captain Richie Campbell starred for the Sharks with four goals. Aidan Roach, Joe Kayes and Johno Cotterill also scored for Australia.

“I think that was up there with some of our best performances against Hungary at the Olympics,” Campbell told the AOC website.

“It’s always good to come close to these guys because I think they’re one of the best teams in the world. It was extremely physical in there. There was a lot of grappling, a lot of wrestling, they were getting a bit feisty, we were getting a bit feisty.”

So much that in what was an entertaining encounter between two of the group heavyweights, the match was marred by a melee in the closing stages.

A heated argument started the push and splash but no players were sent off.

They take on Japan next.

The Hockeyroos’ campaign is teetering on the brink following another loss in the group stage.

They fell 2-1 to the USA after a number of scoring opportunities went unconverted.

They Hockeyroos still have more three matches in Pool B and will desperate to add their first points.

They take on India on Wednesday night, followed by clashes against Argentina and Japan.