Australia's three-time Olympic slalom canoe champion Jess Fox has revealed she underwent surgery to remove a tumour from her kidney, describing the past few weeks as a 'whirlwind'. The 31-year-old, who won gold at both the Tokyo and Paris Games, said the procedure was successful but she experienced post-surgery complications.
In a statement on Thursday, Fox said she was now recovering well. 'It's been a whirlwind over the last few weeks, but I'm all good – just a couple of gnarly new scars, a bit less kidney, and a whole lot more toughness,' she said. 'I'm feeling positive and looking forward to heading home, focusing on recovery, and then building towards being back on the water again.'
As a result of the surgery, Fox will miss the remaining World Cup events in Europe. She will instead focus on her recovery at home. Fox is considered one of Australia's greatest Olympians, with six medals including three golds from the 2020 and 2024 Games.
The Australian Olympic Committee president, Ian Chesterman, expressed full support for Fox. 'Jess is an incredibly resilient person and she has faced this latest challenge with her renowned determination and fight,' he said. 'Through her incredible efforts in sport and other projects, Jess has impacted lives across the world. I know all those people will be cheering for her full and speedy recovery.'
