Strong Aussie start: Fox 5th, Anderson 10th in Penrith

The ICF Slalom World Championships 2025 launched in spectacular fashion in Penrith today, as athletes battled it out in the Kayak Cross Individual Time Trial, marking the first time medals have been awarded in this event at a World Championships.

Under glorious blue skies in Penrith, athletes raced against the clock in pursuit of a place in the individual heats of Saturday’s Kayak Cross, which will be the final event and a thrilling conclusion to this year’s Championships. 

More than 120 competitors (73 male; 51 female) took to the water on opening day and over 250 athletes from 41 nations are set to contest the six-day event.

With a top-five finish, Olympic gold medalist Noemie Fox (AUS) has positioned herself strongly for Saturday’s heats. In the men’s event, Paris Olympian Tim Anderson (AUS) led the Australian charge with an impressive 10th place result.

Fox said the result today was bittersweet. 

“I’m so close to the podium, it’s quite hard to stomach but it’s a strong start and leaves me hungry for more,” she said. 

“I felt really calm and prepared and that’s the mindset. It’s frustrating to see how close I was.” she said. 

On competing without Jess in the team:

“It’s a definitely a different position to be in, Jess has been a great support on the bank and it’s hard for her to watch.

“I think I proved I have what it takes in Paris, I was there as an individual and not part of a package. Regardless of whether she (Jess) was racing or not here, my approach was going to be the same it’s just harder not having her as a team-mate and hard as a sister to see someone work so hard and not be able to take part, that was really hard,” she said. 

Dual Olympian Alena Marx (SUI) dominated the women’s event finishing a second ahead of the field, while the men’s event was won by Olympian David Llorente (ESP).

Competition continues Tuesday with the Canoe Heats (C1) & Canoe Teams events getting underway, with all the action beginning at 10am AEST.