Noemie Fox could have switched her national allegiance to France or Great Britain as the greatest female canoe slalom athlete in history, who also happens to be her sister, repeatedly blocked her from competing at the Olympic Games.
But the 27-year-old says she never seriously considered siding with France, her country of birth, or Great Britain, for whom her dad competed, in a bid to squeeze into the Olympics.
Noemie received her ticket to Paris in a heartwarming moment with her sister Jess under the Eiffel Tower this week.
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She’s now set to represent Australia alongside Jess in kayak cross at the Olympics, taking on the world in a new Olympic discipline.
“I was in the grandstand [at the Sydney 2000 Olympics] and I think I had one French flag, one Australian flag and maybe a British hat or something, trying to show all three [countries],” Noemie told reporters over Zoom.
“But we really quickly adopted Australia as a home … Even now, when I get that question, I think I wouldn’t ever change countries.
“You have a lot of people in our sport that actually do that to have an opportunity to get to the Games, but for me I think the Olympic Games are more than that; it’s more than just a start line, it’s [about] looking back on the journey you’ve had.
“I think Australia does that really well; we celebrate the journey that every athlete has been on.”
Only one quota place is available for each national Olympic committee in the canoe single (C1) and kayak single (K1) events, and Jess snapped up the Australian spots for the London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games.
She collected silver in the K1 at London 2012 and bronze in the same event at Rio 2016, then won gold in the C1 and bronze in the K1 at the Tokyo Olympics.
But the introduction of kayak cross has given committees an opportunity to unlock two quota places in that discipline, paving the way for Noemie to become an Olympian, just like Jess, her mum Myriam and her dad Richard.
“The Australian system has invested so much in me since my first junior worlds … and even the talent ID [identification] before that,” Noemie said.
“It’s only natural and fitting that I would compete for Australia and … I’d never imagine changing countries just to be on a start line. It wouldn’t feel as special and I think that’s what’s so exciting about these Olympic Games; to be able to wear the green and gold in Paris.
“It’s a bit of a full-circle moment now.”