The Australian Canoe Slalom team have arrived in Paris ahead of the 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Final this weekend.
The Slalom World Cup season will go down to the wire this week at the 2024 Olympic venue in Vaires-Sur-Marne on the outskirts of Paris, with double World Cup points up for grabs and the race for individual glory wide open.
Australia’s eight-strong team for the World Cup final includes 2023 World Champions Jess and Noemie Fox, dual Olympian Lucien Delfour and men’s kayak athlete Tim Anderson, fresh off a personal best performance at the London World Championships.
Jessica Fox currently holds top position in both the Women’s Canoe and Women’s Kayak World Cup standings.
“I’m really excited to race in Paris, in Vaires-Sur-Marne,” Fox said.
“It will be the first race for me on that course. It’s been open for many years, so everyone has been able to get there, train a little bit and get the feel for it.
“But I know that there’s also been quite a few changes made to the venue and the course, so it will be great to get back there, to race in a big event and to see what it could be like [for Paris 2024].
“All up, I think I’ve spent a few weeks there now, so I’m looking forward to racing there and eating some croissants too,” she said.
Delfour sits in sixth position in the men’s kayak overall standings, 38 points behind season leader Vit Prindis (CZE). Anderson also sneaks into the top 10 on 128 points, while also holding on to seventh in the men’s kayak cross on 91 points.
Following his performance in the Men’s K1 at London, Anderson said he feels like he has come into his own this season, and said he’s excited to race in Paris this weekend, as a prelude to what could be next year.
“Things have started working out, I have expected a bit more of myself, put more on my own shoulders and that has resulted in better results for me,” he said.
“It’s pretty huge [to secure the quota], we always pride ourselves on being at the Games and being at every Olympics and competing hard, so it’s nice to know Australia will be there again come Paris next year.”
Racing will get underway at Paris’ Vaires-Sur-Marne on Thursday 5 October through until Saturday 8 October. For the full schedule – click here
AUSTRALIAN TEAM
Jessica Fox – women’s kayak, women’s canoe, kayak cross
Noemie Fox – women’s kayak, women’s canoe, kayak cross
Lucien Delfour – men’s kayak, kayak cross
Tim Anderson – men’s kayak, kayak cross
Ben Pope – men’s kayak
Tristan Carter – men’s canoe, kayak cross
Brodie Crawford – men’s canoe, kayak cross
Kaylen Bassett – men’s canoe
