Fresh from carrying the Australian flag in the opening ceremony, Jess Fox returns to the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium today for the finals of the women’s K1 Slalom.

The Tokyo bronze-medallist in this event topped qualifying on Saturday, and enters today’s semi-finals in red hot form as she looks to win her fourth consecutive medal in the K1 Slalom at the Olympics.

After finishing second in the first heat, Jess set the best time of the day of 92.18, edging out Klaudia Zwolinska (POL) and Camille Prigent (FRA).

The 30-year-old relished the conditions on the course and is feeling confident ahead of the finals.

“I felt solid on my first run and just wanted to make some improvements for the second,” Jess said. “I had a big 24 hours with the opening ceremony last night, so I wanted to make sure I was resting as much as I could when I got home and this morning as well.

“I’m feeling good for tomorrow.”

And while she was happy with her result, it’s all to paddle for in the finals.

“Everyone gets excited by the number today but it doesn’t mean anything,” she said. “We go back to zero tomorrow.

“We all go back to square one and it’s about process, qualifying into that final and then in the final, trying to do the best one.”

It is the first of three events for Jess in Paris, as she aims to defend her gold medal in the C1 Slalom, as well as hitting the course in the inaugural Olympic Kayak Cross.

She will take to the course in the semi-final from 11.30pm AEST (28 July), with the top ten paddlers advancing to the final at 1.45am AEST (29 July).

The men’s C1 Slalom heats also took place on Saturday, with Australia’s Tristan Carter qualifying for the semi-finals after finishing in ninth place.

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Words courtesy of olympics.com.au.

Image courtesy of Garry Bowden.

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