Jessica Fox: reaching for remarkable in 2024

Rebecca Archer 

Welcome to The Remarkables – Grant Thornton’s podcast that seeks to uncover stories about remarkable people doing incredible things for their community, bettering the world for future generations and inspiring others to do the same. 

I’m Rebecca Archer, and today we have an exciting episode to share with you – we’re joined by Olympic Gold Medalist, 10x Canoe Slalom World Champion, and most recently brand ambassador for Grant Thornton, Jessica Fox. Jess is not only an accomplished athlete, but also an inspiration to many, with significant dedication, perseverance, and passion for her sport. Her journey to the top has been remarkable, and we can’t wait to hear about her insights and experiences ahead of a big 2024 season.

We’re so thrilled to begin this partnership journey, especially as she nears competing for Australia for the fourth time. 

Welcome to the podcast Jess!

Jessica Fox

Thanks for having me on.

Rebecca Archer 

Before we begin, we really like to ask all of our guests what they're reading or listening to or watching at the moment.

Jessica Fox

I always listen to podcasts in the car, and at the moment I'm listening to a Huberman Lab podcast about sleep, trying to master my sleep and nail that for my recovery, and I've just finished reading The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden, which was a bit more of a like, thriller, which probably isn't helping my sleep to read that before at night. And what was I watching? I just finished Lessons in Chemistry, which I loved. Great series.

Rebecca Archer 

All right, so take us through a day in the life of Jess Fox.

Jessica Fox

At the moment, we're training pretty hard at home in Penrith, so training looks like 7:30 on the water. Usually, I leave home by 6:30 to have enough time to kind of stretch and get ready. I like waking up early enough that I'm not in a rush. So usually, I'm awake at 5:30-6.00, so on the water at 7:30, finish by nine and then I might have physio or meetings with our sports psych or a nutritionist. 

We also have like video review that we do with the coaches, and then I might have a gym or a second water session in the afternoon, and then somewhere in that time, if I can squeeze in a nap or squeeze in some uni work or catch up with a friend, usually I do that as well.

Rebecca Archer 

So pretty busy and quite relentless by the sound of it. You need to be fairly disciplined, I would imagine. Is there anything that people might find a bit surprising about your routine?

Jessica Fox

Yesterday was probably a good example of the fact that my routine is different every day and that I spent maybe three and a half hours with my hands in resin and carbon trying to repair some equipment and prepare equipment for the season. So, I was in the garage with my mum, who's also my coach, and we were making paddles for the season. So, I guess some people probably expect that we wouldn't have to do that, and we have people who do that for us, and when I'm overseas competing at races, usually I can find someone to do that, or usually ask my partner, but because he's not here at the moment, I'm doing it.

Rebecca Archer 

That's incredibly hands on, I imagine. Quite a good skill to have, too.

Jessica Fox

It is, it is. I mean, it's very niche. I'm not sure it's going to translate into my life after sport to be able to, you know, repair a paddle, but I think it's good to have the skill just in case it happens as well overseas. I'm ready for that.

Rebecca Archer 

What's something that people might not know about canoe slalom? Has this sport been around for very long? How did it originate and what exactly is involved?

Jessica Fox

I think it started in Switzerland in like the 1930s and, you know, it was more like a... Obviously in skiing, we know slalom skiing and I think, you know, there are rivers all over the world and there are people who must have thought, why don't we make a sport on a river and make it like slalom skiing, but make it slalom kayaking? So that's kind of where it started, but people had massive kayaks, no helmets, no life jackets back then, and it made its Olympic debut in 1972 at The Games in Munich. So, it's been, yeah, I think, many, many years. My parents used to compete in it and I kind of followed in their footsteps.

Mum raced for France in 1992 and ‘96, she won a bronze medal, and my dad raced for Great Britain in 92 and they eventually became coaches and that's how I ended up paddling as well.

Rebecca Archer 

So, it's in your blood, in your DNA, really. 

Jessica Fox

In my blood. 

Rebecca Archer 

How do you feel when you're doing it? I imagine it must be a huge rush and also, at times, quite terrifying. 

Jessica Fox

At the start, it definitely was, and anytime I'm on a new course or a new river or there's water level changes, that's when I feel the nerves or the fear or that adrenaline rush, but on my day to day training, I don't really get that same rush that I did when I was a kid, and it was all big and scary, but it's still so enjoyable for me because it's so different every day. 

I'm on a course that's, you know, there's so many different moves to try. It's a bit like a whitewater playground for me, and that's what keeps me coming back. I just love the fact that I can play with the water and learn new skills every day, and that competition is always different as well. And I'm super competitive and love that challenge.

Rebecca Archer 

Were there ever times where there were other sports that you maybe considered going into that maybe even adjacent to this particular sport or completely different to it?

Jessica Fox

I loved swimming and gymnastics. Our parents put us in all different sports – me and my sister – when we were growing up. So, we definitely had a great upbringing, trying everything – netball, soccer – and the ones that stuck for me were mostly swimming and also tumbling. So, flips and trampolines; I loved that, but I broke my arm doing it, and eventually my physio said, you should get back in a kayak to paddle to strengthen your arm again as rehab, and it sort of coincided with an age where I was allowed to go on the rapids, because up until that point, I didn't really like kayaking.

I didn't want to do what my parents did. It was a bit lame; it was a bit boring to be on the flatwater, but getting on the rapids, that's what I loved, and I was at that age where I think it was twelve or 13, where you could go on the whitewater. That's kind of what kick started it for me then.

Rebecca Archer 

What are some of the greatest challenges for you in competing at the level that you do?

Jessica Fox

The challenge is probably the problem-solving aspect of the course is really interesting and something I love, and people probably don't know that we don't get to practice the gates before we race them. So, we see it on the bank, they set the course the night before, and then we have to visualise and analyse on the video and analyse on the bank, and then we get out there and we do it. 

And so that kind of requires us to problem solve and to adapt. And I love that as well as that's kind of nerve wracking and stressful when you haven't done a certain combination before and you're not really sure what the fastest or the safest way to do it is, and I think also the kayak cross, that's the biggest challenge for me because it's a head to head race and it's a new event for the games this year. I find that intense and kind of terrifying as well.

Rebecca Archer 

If you don't know what the course is, does that mean you have to basically try to work out as many or anticipate as many different changes or challenges as possible ahead of that and sort of have that moving through your brain before it even starts?

Jessica Fox

A little bit. So, in the lead up, we get to train at the venue, we get to put gates in different spots and imagine what the course might be like. So, there are between 18 to 25 gates. Six of those are upstream, and then the rest are all downstream, but there are unlimited combinations that could occur in a race, and so, we try and guess what the course might be based on the different features of the course. 

For example, the Paris course is a little bit smaller compared to London or Rio or Tokyo but has a lot of little intricate bits that we've been practicing and that we might think, oh, they could put a gate here or there, but we don't know until the night before. So, in the lead up, we're definitely trying everything that we can and then hoping that we've got the skills to do it, whatever it is, come game day.

Rebecca Archer 

Seems like other athletes might have a bit more of an advantage in their particular sports, because if you're running the 100 metres, you pretty much can plan out what's going to happen in that race.

Jessica Fox

And when I think back to swimming, you know, the variables. I mean – there's not really many variables. You're in your lane and it's the same lane everywhere in the world and the same distance. So, you can kind of prepare in a way that's very different. Same with sports like in gymnastics or diving, where it's a routine that you've practiced a million times before you actually compete. 

So, you have that muscle memory and that also the visualisation comes into play a lot. So, for us, it's a lot more about adaptability. It's about trusting yourself come race day, that you have the skills, and you can piece it together and sort of, as you go, adapt.

Rebecca Archer 

And now I understand this is the fourth time that you've competed at the biggest games for Australia. What keeps you motivated? What keeps you going and inspired?

Jessica Fox

Yes, it's crazy to think Paris will be my fourth. I felt so young and naive and just a dream come true to be there at my first as an 18-year-old and now to be coming back as one of the most experienced athletes on our team will be pretty special. What keeps me going, I think, is the fact that I love what I do and it feels, you know, so enjoyable to be doing what I love, such a privilege to be doing what I love, and I'm super competitive and I think I, I love to push myself on the daily in training, but also come competition, I feel like, you know, I've got the potential to keep pushing and to find ways to keep improving. So, a lot of people have asked me if this is my last one, but it's almost like I'm not ready to make that decision yet. But it's more that, as long as that desire is there to be striving for my best and to have that goal and that hunger to be the best I can be, then that's what keeps me coming back.

Rebecca Archer 

Have you ever had moments where you've thought, I'm not really sure if I want to keep going with this or other challenges, even physical, where you've thought, this is just not what I want to do from here on in.

Jessica Fox

I don't think I've had that long term thought, but definitely day to day. You know, you wake up some mornings and it's cold and you don't want to get wet and go out and train and your body's sore. There are definitely mornings when I'm not motivated and I think a lot of people go through that, the ups and downs. Some days you're feeling like, you know, you're firing and ready to go and other days you're dragging your feet out the door, but you're pushing yourself to get there because you're disciplined and you've set some goals and, you know, you've got to see it through. 

So, I think it's part of it, and just for me, it's knowing what my goals are that helps me continue. Yeah, I don't think I've ever thought, oh, I don't want to be in this sport anymore, but I've always, you know, gone, look, I don't want to be in the gym. I don't like the gym, but I know it helps me be my best on the water and I need to get stronger to prevent injury, to improve. So, I sort of try and just trick my mind when I don't want to go and end up turning up, and the motivation comes now.

Rebecca Archer 

You're literally only really weeks away from competing in Paris. Talk me through the kind of preparation that's happening for you.

Jessica Fox

It's getting so exciting now. The countdown is on. I think it's about every day focusing on that big picture goal, because knowing that every day now starts to really add up. So, I'm focused every morning. I'm really trying to make each session count. We've just gotten back from a training camp in Paris on the course, which was fantastic, to get a feel for it, to really do a lot of repetition, a lot of work on that course, and so now at home, we're sort of, in the final weeks, we're doing our technical prep, our physical prep on the water, in the gym, finalising equipment, so making sure my boats, my paddles, everything's in order, so that when I arrive in Europe, I'm ready to go.

Yeah. Then we have two World cup races in the lead up before the games – two or three I think – and a final camp in Paris to prepare. So, yeah, definitely trying to make each day count and stay injury free and focused.

Rebecca Archer 

Jess, how do you build resilience in your particular sport?

Jessica Fox

I think resilience is such an important skill for athletes, but especially in my sport, when there are so many different things that we're battling with, you know, the weather, sometimes, the conditions in my events, you know, I do three events. So being resilient also means not only in training every day to come back and do better the next day or during the session, to be resilient and turn it around if it hasn't started well, but on a race week, whatever the results from the previous race, resilience to me, is being able to come back from disappointment, come back from a challenge, whether that's a physical injury or whether it's a mental block or a confidence low. Being able to, you know, build through that is something I've learned over the years and something that comes with experience, I think, and something that we work every day, you know, not giving up in training when things aren't perfect, because a lot of the time things aren't perfect. I'm going to wake up on that one day every four years and probably not feel at my best, but I have to know that I have to get out there and do the best run I can with what I've got. 

So, I think resilience is a strength of mine. I mean, I hope, but I think it's something we've all come to talk about a lot more, especially post COVID. You know, we really drilled on that a lot, especially in my team.

Rebecca Archer 

What are you most excited about in terms of competing in Paris?

Jessica Fox

I think the crowd and the atmosphere is something that we really missed a few years ago in Tokyo. So, I can't wait to feel that again and to know that I might have some family and friends there. I was born in France, so a lot of my family on my mum's side is still living over there, so it'll be really exciting to have them in the crowd. So, yeah, I can't wait.

Rebecca Archer 

Can you give us a bit of information about the new event in the games this year?

Jessica Fox

So, in my sport, we have three events that I compete in. The Kayak K1 and the Canoe C1. Those are the two slalom events that I raced in Tokyo. So down those gates, down the rapids, one at a time, and then there's the Kayak Cross, which is the new event that's been added to the program for Paris, and that's basically like BMX or ski cross, if you can visualise those. It's four athletes in plastic kayaks down a ramp at the same time battling it through the rapids, and there are a series of gates that we have to go through and contact is allowed. There are some rules around, you know, you can't aim for the head or the body, but, you know, you can barge into each other with the boats. And the goal is to get down as quickly as possible without running into too many people along the way, but it is a lot more, I guess, exciting to watch for people because there's a lot going on and it's a little bit chaotic as well. I think a lot of luck comes into it and you can't really control your competitors. So, it's really about reading the race and adapting in the moment.

Rebecca Archer 

That sounds so exciting. Are you excited for that?

Jessica Fox

I'm definitely excited for it, but it's. It's one that makes me really nervous because in slalom I'm in control, I'm by myself. I'm the one just out there running my race. Whereas in Kayak Cross I could have a strategy in mind, I could have something in my head about what I'm going to do, but that could all go out the window within the first few seconds because someone else has decided they want to overtake or push me into the corner. So, it's exciting to race, it's exciting to watch, but it's. It gets my heart pumping. There's a little bit of fear in it as well.

Rebecca Archer 

Jess, I'm interested to hear how you juggle all of the commitments that go alongside with being such an accomplished athlete.

Jessica Fox

Yeah, I think it's something that I've been able to embrace and it's such a privilege to be in this position that I have, you know, media commitments and sponsorship commitments that I get to also participate in activities in the community and different events. 

But it does also mean that I've got to manage my time, and I'm also studying doing an MBA at Griffith Uni, and so that means that time management has been something I've had to learn, and I've also got a management company that helps me with all of my commitments so that I can make sure I'm turning up where I need to be turning up and I'm ready to go, and then I can also focus on my training and competition when I'm in my zone. 

So, yeah, I think it gives me a great balance as well, and a way to network and meet different people and different industries as well, and I love that side of it, too.

Rebecca Archer 

How do you relax?

Jessica Fox

Great question. I think it's super important. For me, it's all about self-awareness. You know, I notice when I'm running myself into the ground and when I've said yes to too many things that my tanks start to run low, and I need to take some time for myself. And sometimes that might just be, you know, 20 minutes each morning where I'm sipping my coffee and doing the wordle on my phone or, like, journaling and reading a book or something like that, and I also love to paint, like, watercolors. So sometimes I'm doing, like, my Christmas cards in watercolor and, you know, or just dabbling around and anything that gets me out of my head and using my hands, I find, is really great way for me to relax.

Rebecca Archer 

Now, if you had an opportunity to go back and speak to the younger Jess, what, what sort of advice would you have for her?

Jessica Fox

Well, I'd say get ready for a wild ride. I think, you know, when I think back to little Jess, say, as a ten-year-old, when I was watching the Athens Olympic Games and just so in awe of, you know, our Aussie athletes, like Anna Mears and Ian Thorpe and Jodie Henry, like, I was obsessed with the Olympics and I wanted to be part of that, and I think when I look at the trajectory that I've had, there's always been that belief that I could do something, but along the way, you have those doubts. 

So, I think what I would say to little Jess is always stay true to who you are and enjoy and celebrate the wins, however big or small, because they feel insignificant at the time, but they're actually really special milestones that you reach. So, celebrate those little goals and know that any obstacle, any challenge that you face is meant to teach you something, because now anything that happens in my life or my career, I think, okay, what is this meant to teach me? If it's challenging me in some way, what is this meant to teach me?

Rebecca Archer 

How important was it for you, as a younger person, to pave your own way, given that – we've talked about this – sport really is big in your family?

Jessica Fox

I guess that's why I shied away from it for a little while, because I didn't want to do what my parents did. I maybe didn't want to be compared to them, and what was different for me was that I was doing two events, I was doing the kayak and the canoe, and my parents only ever did the kayak. 

So, I thought, okay, the canoe is my point of difference, and they never did that. So at least, you know, I'm Junior World Champion, they never were that. I've got that on them. Little did I know that my career would sort of go on to be pretty incredible, and they've been a huge part of that. They've been amazing mentors to me and the biggest support my family are, yeah, everything to me.

Rebecca Archer 

I'm curious now to hear about why you became interested in working with Grant Thornton Australia, and the organisation is so happy to have you.

Jessica Fox

Oh, and, yeah, that's a mutual feeling. I think it's super exciting to be joining the team with Grant Thornton and looking at what, you know, this campaign reaching for remarkable is something that I do every day, is something that we're striving for every day, that. That little slice of excellence that we're chasing, and for me, it just felt like a natural fit and quite authentic to align with a brand that shared those values and to see, in a way, how we could work together to bring value to each other, whether that's, you know, inspiring their team or, for me, you know, that support on the water makes a huge difference in my career as an athlete as well. 

So, yeah, super excited to be joining the team and love what this campaign is about and, you know, the striving and the reaching is something that I'll be doing this year and aiming for remarkable is the goal.

Rebecca Archer 

Jess, how do you see your sport aligning to what the people of Grant Thornton do?

Jessica Fox

Yeah, I guess when you think tax and advisory, you don't really think sport and canoe slalom; they are quite different, but at the same time, I think there are so many parallels between what I do and also the business world. Like there is a changing environment in what I'm doing. I've constantly got to adapt. I've got to, you know, strive to be the best person I can be on the water, off the water, with my team working to be the best that we can for, you know, the best results, and I think there are parallels with that in, in the workplace as well. You know, I want to try and, I guess, bring my best and inspire others to be able to bring that as well in their field. So, hopefully, with Grant Thornton, I think we can find our own slalom as we go down the rapids of both our industries, but I can definitely see the parallels in that way.

Rebecca Archer 

What does remarkable mean to you? What do you think about when you hear that word?

Jessica Fox

When I think of remarkable, I think of sparkles, if I was to put it in visual, but I think of what's something that is stretching my ability, you know, what's something that's that lofty goal, what do I need to be to get there? You know, what behaviors, what actions do I need to do to be remarkable to reach that goal that I'm aiming for? And, yeah, what are the feelings that it evokes? So, I think for me, it's like the spark is what drives me, and reaching for remarkable is an everyday behavior to hopefully reach a goal.

Rebecca Archer 

And while we're on the topic of remarkable, I wonder if you'd be willing to share the most remarkable advice you've ever been given.

Jessica Fox

I mean, there's been a few, probably being a sponge and learning and learning from everyone, not just people in my industry, but in different areas. I think curiosity is such an incredible strength and tool and so being a sponge and soaking in information, but I think also, when I think about my year and what's coming up and how I'm preparing for that, we talk with my coaches about how you want to rise to the occasion and you want to be where your feet are, be present, rise to the occasion, but also under pressure, you always fall to the level of your training. 

So that reminds me every day that my level at training needs to be the highest standard possible. I need to be reaching for that remarkable status at training every day to ensure that when the pressure's on, when the heat of the moment is on, when I'm in that start pool at Paris, that whatever happens, my training has been so high, that level that I'm falling to is going to be remarkable anyway. So, I think those are probably the things that are sticking with me the most at the moment.

Rebecca Archer 

Jess, thank you so much for your time today. I can only imagine how busy you are with preparation for Paris. It's so exciting to have you on board and from everyone at Grant Thornton, we wish you the best of luck for the rest of 2024. For people who would like to follow your journey. How can they do that? What's the best way to follow what Jess Fox is up to?

Jessica Fox

Social media I think jessfoxcanoe is my handle @jessfoxcanoe and I've also got a website, jessicafox.com.au and yeah, pretty much I'll be posting online, maybe a little bit more quiet during the games, but I think I share a lot on my social media and take people along for the journey and see what I get up to. But thank you so much. It's been a pleasure being on the podcast and looking forward to a big year and to be working with Grant Thornton.

Rebecca Archer 

If you liked this podcast and would like to hear more remarkable stories, you can find, like and subscribe to The Remarkables podcast by Grant Thornton Australia on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Leave us a review or ideas on who you’d like to hear from next. I’m Rebecca Archer – thank you for listening.