Jessica Fox Wins Fifth K1 World Championship Title in Flawless Style at the LA 2028 Olympic Venue

Olympic Champion and New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder Jessica Fox has completed a comeback story for the ages to claim her fifth women’s K1 title in Oklahoma at the 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships. 

After being unable to defend her 2023 K1 World Championship title on home soil last year, Fox put down a flawless run on the LA 2028 Olympic course in the women’s K1 final. 

With strong runs from long-time competitors Kimberley Woods and Ricarda Funk to start the final, Fox came down as the sixth paddler and was at her steely best once again with a powerful and clean run. 

USA’s Evy Leibfarth looked to threaten Fox’s time of 92.06 seconds but Fox prevailed 1.31 seconds faster and claimed her third gold medal of the 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships. 

“It’s emotional. I can’t believe it. I was so nervous today and once I made the final, I wanted to try and get out there, enjoy it and give it my best shot. I’m so proud of my race. 

“It was a really good run and to share the podium with Kim (Woods) and Evy (Leibfarth) is really special as well. I can’t believe it,” she said.

Her inspiring 12 month journey from kidney surgery to dominating the whitewater continues to add to her phenomenal legacy in paddle sport.

“I’m just really proud today to push myself in those uncomfortable moments of pressure and nerves and to be able to deliver and win another world title. I just can’t believe it. 

“I’m so full of gratitude, and joy, and emotion, and thankful to everyone who has helped me. It takes a village to get you from the hospital bed to just back in a boat,” she said. 

Fox’s victory in the women’s K1 sealed herself as a five-time World Champion of the event, continuing to etch her name into the history books. 

“It hasn’t quite sunk in yet. It’s been an amazing start to the week. Three gold medals and each one has felt different, has meant something different. I’m back on top and it feels bloody good,” she said. 

Fox will be back on the water tomorrow for the women’s C1 semi finals, where she will aiming for another C1 world title. 

NSWIS Olympian Tim Anderson snuck into the men’s K1 final after a rollercoaster men’s K1 semi final. Anderson was on a flying run until the wind picked up and impacted his run, finishing with a 50-second penalty and in 12th place.

Going off first in the men’s K1 final, Anderson applied a “nothing-to-lose” mentality and gave it his all.

“It is a bit of a freeing feeling knowing you are first down. You get to set the benchmark. I was more racing to do my best race and see what I could do.

“I’m pretty happy with the way I performed. I executed a lot of the moves better than I did in the semi finals so I was really pleased with that. My time would’ve been right up there without the 50 [second penalty] so there are some good things to take away,” he said. 

Earlier in the day, Noemie Fox (19th/NSWIS) and Kate Eckhardt (28th) picked up penalties navigating a tricky course in the women’s K1 semi finals. 

Lucien Delfour (13th/NSWIS) missed the men’s K1 final by one spot and Ben Pope (25th) was given a 50-second penalty for missing an early gate in an aggressive run. 

The C1 semi finals and finals headline day five action in OKC. Racing will start from 1:00am AEST Saturday 25 July. 

Live action and race replays will be on the Planet Canoe YouTube Channel. 

Find the full schedule and results here.

Images: Brandon Ngo