Gold medal paddling sisters Jessica and Noemie Fox to be honoured with island named after them
'Fox Island’ will commemorate their achievements at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium, the canoe slalom venue for Sydney 2000 where both Olympic champions grew up and trained.
Paris 2024 Australian gold medallists Jessica Fox and Noemie Fox are to be celebrated with an island at the Sydney Olympic whitewater centre named after them.
‘Fox Island’ will mark their achievements at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium, the canoe slalom and kayak slalom venue for Sydney 2000 where the Fox sisters grew up.
The distinction was announced by the New South Wales government on Wednesday (4 September), as part of investment ahead of the 2025 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships which will be hosted at the stadium.
In a statement, the local government said, “In recognition of the outstanding contribution the Fox family has made to the paddling community, the NSW Government have also announced that the island in the heart of Penrith Whitewater Stadium will now be known as Fox Island.
“This announcement reflects the NSW Government’s commitment to celebrate the achievements of female athletes.”
Jessica said of the recognition, “I remember being a six-year-old in the stands for Sydney 2000 and an 11-year-old in the stands when the World Championships were here in 2005, so to have that legacy 20, 25 years on, for me it means so much.”
The siblings won three gold medals between them at Paris 2024, including a first Olympic medal for younger sister Noemie.
Jessica Fox (R) congratulating her sister Noemie Fox for her victory in the women's kayak cross final at Paris 2024.
Her maiden medal came in the women’s kayak cross, becoming the first ever Olympic champion in the newly added discipline.
Older sister Jessica won gold in the women’s kayak single and the women’s canoe single, giving her a tally of six Olympic medals across four Olympic appearances.
Jessica was elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission in August. She was also Australia’s female flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony on the river Seine.
It is not the first naming honour that the Fox sisters have received upon their Olympic glory; a Sydney zoo named a koala joey ‘Fox’ after them to celebrate their achievements.