This was the medal she wanted more than anything and when the pressure was on after a challenging semi, she backed herself, regrouped and attacked the course in the final.

“I don't know what it means yet, but it means everything to me right now,” Jess said.

“It's been years and years of chasing this dream, of getting really close, of persevering and picking myself back-up and a lot of teamwork.

“I feel love and gratitude for everyone who has helped me to get here today, and to feel that energy from the crowd and also from everyone who was staying up late back home in Australia.

“I think it was just the perfect day for me. It didn't start well, but it finished really well and it was just magical.”

After qualifying eighth fastest, Jess was fifth paddler down the course in the 12-woman final.

She looked like a different paddler from the semi.

There were no mistakes, she was pushing hard but in total control, and her blistering time of 96.08 seconds put the pressure straight back on her competitors.

Jess was eight seconds faster in the final than the qualifier a few hours earlier, and ended up winning the gold by 1.45 seconds from Poland’s Klaudia Zwolinska. Great Britain’s Kimberley Woods claimed the bronze.

Tokyo Olympic Champion Ricarda Funk (GER) topped the semi-finals with 99.31 seconds but was trying so hard to match Jess she made a major mistake late in her run and ended her medal chances.

Jess now has five individual medals, after her Canoe gold in Tokyo. She joins Ian Thorpe, Leisel Jones, Shirley Strickland and Anna Meares, as the only Australians to achieve this.

She now is equal with Slovakia’s Michal Martikan as the most successful athlete in Olympic Canoe Slalom history.

Jess stands alone as the only Australian to win four consecutive medals in the same event. Only Anna Meares has also won an individual medal at four consecutive Games (although in different events).

Fittingly Anna as Chef de Mission, who selected Jess for the honour of being the female Flag Bearer for the Australian Team, was at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium cheering her on.

There was joy, relief and pride from the Aussies.

It was an extremely emotional win for the entire Fox family.

Her mum and coach Miriam competed for France and missed gold twice. And then coaches Jess to gold in France.

Her father Richard finished fourth at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

“After she finished her run we celebrated that it was a good run and then the wait was super hard, very hard and we nervously hoped for the best,” Miriam explained.

“When I watched the race as I was not watching the technical, I was watching with emotion.

“I am so thrilled and happy for her.”

The celebrations were quick to begin with a strong Aussie contingent in the stands.

After the medal ceremony, Jess ran to thank her supporters and was soon on a loudspeaker yelling ‘Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi’.

A throng of coaches, athletes and media from other nations, who were thrilled for the likable Jess and her family, shows the impact and legacy they have made, and are making on the sport.

Despite the effort over many years to win this gold, the celebrations will be brief. Jess has to refocus on her other events.

“This is the one we really wanted, but the job isn’t done yet,” Miriam said.

“We celebrate and then the Games are back on and we move on to the next event. She has one day to recover and then we are back on with the heat of the C1.”

Words courtesy of olympics.com.au.‍

‍Image courtesy of Garry Bowden.