A nervous wait on the banks of Penrith’s Whitewater Stadium will not be enough to rattle Noemie Fox as she looks to improve on a difficult semi final performance at the canoe slalom world championships on Friday.
Fox produced a steady run down the rapids to record a time of a 108.77 in what positioned her in 10th place overall on the live leaderboard.
But with five athletes still yet to hit the rapids – one of which was world No.2 Ricarda Funk – a cloud of doubt hovered over the Australian star’s qualification.
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Only the top 12 athletes would secure a spot in the women’s kayak final.
Australia’s Kate Eckhardt sat higher on the leaderboard with a time of 107.85, which eventually saw her secure an overall ranking of 10th leading into the final.
As for Fox, she was left to watch both Camille Prigent and Funk, who was the last athlete to take to the course, hit the rapids before she could learn her fate.
The 28-year-old Penrith local was joined by her sister, Jess, and mother Myriam as the official times came through.
“It was definitely a nervous wait,” Fox said after it was confirmed she would be the 12th and final qualifier.
“I found it hard to find my flow, felt very on edge and nervous.
“I’m super satisfied to just squeeze through with my teammate Kate. We are such strong paddlers and now we are starting off first in the final.
“Now it is just time to reset and go again.”
Watch the ICF Slalom World Championships live and free on Nine and 9Now.
While it was not the most comfortable of waits for Fox, Eckhardt admitted that seeing the little ‘f’ appear next to her name was “a dream” she hoped would come true.
“It’s always been a dream and to have been able to deliver a good enough run to be in the final is super special,” she said.
“I’m pretty speechless by the amount of support and the number of people who are here to watch from my community back home.
“It’s so, so special. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
