Olympic champions return as Fox sisters reunite for Prague challenge

A trio of Olympic gold medallists will add extra stardust to a stellar field of paddlers for the second International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup of the season in Prague, Czechia from Friday to Sunday. 

Germany’s Ricarda Funk, Australia’s Noemie Fox – a New South Wales Institute of Sport scholarship holder – and Czechia’s Jiri Prskavec are poised to launch their World Cup campaigns on the Troja course. 

After three-time Olympic champion Jessica Fox (NSWIS) made a successful return to international action last week with silver in Tacen, she will now be joined by her younger sister in Prague. 

Noemie Fox, the Olympic gold medallist in women’s kayak cross, is set to feature on all three days of competition, while Jessica Fox, who struggled with a wrist injury in Tacen, is down for K1 and C1.  

Funk will be aiming to challenge for the K1 and kayak cross crowns as she prepares to make her first World Cup outing of the season. 

She is part of a strong German team that features the likes of Noah Hegge, Sideris Tasiadis, Stefan Hengst and Andrea Herzog.  

The Czechia squad have also been bolstered by the inclusion of Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Prskavec. 

The 33-year-old has enjoyed plenty of success on home waters in the past, winning the K1 title on five occasions. 

He will face competition from fellow Czechs Vit Prindis and world silver medallist Jakub Krejci for top honours. 

France’s Titouan Castryck will also be bidding for K1 glory as he looks to bounce back after a disappointing showing at the first World Cup. 

Castryck failed to make the final along with his French rival Anatole Delassus as Italy’s Xabier Ferrazzi emerged victorious. 

Slovenia’s 18-year-old rising star Ziga Lin Hocevar will be looking to continue his hot streak after bagging men’s C1 and men’s kayak cross gold medals in front of his home crowd in Tacen. 

His older sister Eva Alina Hocevar will also be seeking to pick up from where she left off after securing the women’s K1 gold last week.

Live coverage of the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Prague is available to watch for signed-up members of the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.

International Canoe Federation