Paris 2024 canoe slalom: Noémie Fox of Australia wins gold medal in first women’s kayak cross final in Olympic history
Noémie Fox of Australia won the first ever gold medal in the women’s kayak cross at the Olympic Games. In a thrilling finale, Angele Hug of France took silver while Kimberley Woods of Great Britain clinched bronze.
"It's just been a whirlwind of love and support, and it's so surreal to be, you know, having this gold medal hang from my neck," Fox said. "Obviously sharing that with my family and and my whole team and my friends that came from Australia as well has been super, super special."
Hug and Fox developed a friendship when the two trained together in Prague prior to the Games. After crossing the finish line, the two shared a celebratory embrace.
“It is my first Olympic medal. I dreamed about this since I was four years old, so it is like a huge happiness today," Hug said. “I was so grateful for the 12,000 people here and all the French people cheering for me and the French team. I felt a lot of love.”
Woods, who was considered the pre-race favorite, had already won the bronze medal in kayak single. She had previously won gold in kayak cross at the 2023 world championships.
"[It's] a little bittersweet becuase I tried to go for that gold," Woods said. "But I was really happy that I've come away a double Olympic medalist."
Canoe Slalom: Women’s kayak cross podium
Gold: Noémie Fox, Australia
Silver: Angele Hug, France
Bronze: Kimberley Woods, Great Britain