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Monday, August 29, 2016 • Issue 013
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PROUDLY INDEPENDENT
Welcome home Jess Jessica Fox gets a ‘selfie’ with a Blaxland High School student last week. Photo: Melinda Jane
NATHAN TAYLOR
R
io Olympic Bronze medallist Jessica Fox received a hero’s welcome when she surprised students at her former high school in the Blue Mountains. Students from Blaxland High School greeted the two-time Olympic medallist with cheers as well as hundreds of requests for ‘selfies’, to which the lovable Leonay local gladly obliged. Fox was so appreciative of the support she
received from home, that she even passed around her Rio bronze medal and London silver medal for every single student to touch and hold. Speaking with the Record, Fox said she was overwhelmed by the amount of love she received from students and her former teachers. “It’s really lovely to be back here, I have so many great memories at this school,” she said. “It was a bit emotional and slightly overwhelming with the amount of selfies, but it
was really awesome to see all the students supporting me and the other Blaxland High Olympians.” Fox was one of three former Blaxland High students to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, along with fellow paddler Ian Borrows and shooter Jennifer Hens. Having not been home due to various commitments since April, the 22-year-old finally returned to Australia last Wednesday – one week earlier than the rest of the Australian Olympic Team.
With another two major competitions right around the corner, Fox said it was important to return home early to recharge the batteries. “I wasn’t planning on leaving again so soon but I’ve decided to race the last two World Cup events in Prague and Slovenia in early September, so I came back from Rio a week early to have at least one week at home in my own bed and to see friends,” she said. With two Olympic medals of the silver and bronze variety already around her neck, Fox will aim for gold in Tokyo in 2020.
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