Jess Fox protests against easier women’s course at World Cup

“It’s like we are going back 40 years to when they tried to do this for the K1 women”

NICOLE JEFFERY | THE AUSTRALIAN – Olympic canoe slalom medallist Jess Fox has accused her international federation of setting the sport back 40 years by making the women’s C1 course easier than the men’s at the World Cup event in Germany last weekend.

Fox, who dominated the women’s C1 final in Markkleeberg, was furious that the organisers removed two of the gates from the course for the women’s event, saying it was to fit in with the TV schedule and create a smoother final.

But Fox, who has had to fight long and hard for the past five years to have her best event added to the Olympic program, a fight that was won last month, said the decision devalued the women’s event.

“It’s like we are going back 40 years to when they tried to do this for the K1 women,” Fox said.

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“Two weeks ago we got accepted into the Olympic program, and now we can’t do the full course because they don’t think we are capable of it.

“I know that all the girls in that final are capable of doing that course. Maybe we have to do a few more spins, but give it time.’’

Fox, who also finished second in the K1 event in Germany, said the International Canoe Federation should be encouraging the women to lift their standards by providing equally challenging courses for both genders.

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