Sydney: Triple Olympic gold medalist Jessica Fox has recently undergone surgery to remove a tumour from her left kidney and has announced that she will not compete in the remaining canoe-kayak World Cup events this year. The 31-year-old Australian, who won gold medals in both the K1 and C1 races at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the C1 at the previous Tokyo Games, described the past few weeks as a whirlwind but expressed optimism about her recovery.

Fox is renowned as the first female canoe slalomist to win three Olympic gold medals and is the most decorated in the sport's Olympic history, with six Olympic medals in total. While the nature of the tumour—whether cancerous or not—has not been disclosed, officials confirmed that the surgery was successful. Despite some post-surgery complications, Fox is recovering well and remains in good spirits.

Australian Olympic Committee President Ian Chesterman acknowledged the challenging time Fox and her support network have faced. He praised her resilience and determination, emphasising confidence in her ability to overcome this setback. The committee looks forward to her full recovery and return to the water.

Fox stated her focus is now on recovery, with plans to return to competitive paddling in the future, inspiring fans and athletes worldwide with her courage and fighting spirit.

With inputs from AP