How slalom canoeist Jess Fox was told she would be the Australian flag bearer at Paris 2024

Olympic flag bearer Jess Fox's father has revealed how his daughter was told the news by chef de mission Anna Meares.
The slalom canoe legend will lead Australia at the opening ceremony on Saturday morning AEST, alongside hockey champion Eddie Ockenden.
Jess' father, Richard Fox, said the family were invited to dinner by Anna Meares a couple of months ago, where she shared the happy news.
READ MORE: Cardboard beds to coffee machines: Inside the Olympic village
Jess' father, Richard Fox, said the family were invited to dinner by Anna Meares a couple of months ago, where she shared the happy news. Nine
"It was wonderful. It was done quietly by Anna Meares, she invited us out for a meal and it was the whole family and we thought, 'this is interesting, whats coming up?'" Richard said.
"It took a while to get into it, but it just sort of slipped out in conversation ... and then we just parked it because it was top secret."
Jess is set to compete in her fourth Olympics, after debuting at London 2012 as an 18-year-old.
Jess Fox's younger sister, Noemie will also compete in the slalom canoe event at Paris 2024. Nine
Her younger sister, Noemie will also compete in Paris, after she booked a ticket to her first Olympics at the canoe slalom world cup in June.
"That was massive, that day in Prague ... she had to go through nine rounds of head to head racing to get into the final and then come in the top three," Richard said.
"For Jess especially, she really wanted that, probably not as much as Noemie but ... you could see that, so for us that was a very special moment."
READ MORE: BMX freestyler Logan Martin hopes to win second-ever Olympic gold medal for the sport at Paris 2024
Canoe slalom is a true family affair for the Fox clan. Nine
Canoe slalom is a true family affair for the Fox clan.
Richard himself was a world champion in canoe slalom, competing for Great Britain from the late 1970s to 1990s, while his wife Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi competed for her native France in the sport.
He said Jess' French heritage made the flag bearer honour all the more special to his daughter.
The slalom canoe legend will lead Australia at the opening ceremony on Saturday morning AEST, alongside hockey champion Eddie Ockenden. Nine
"She loves that French culture and they spent a lot of time growing up, even though we were living in Australia, from the age of three, four, we came back every year, she spent time with her grandmother, she speaks French, there's a lot of French that goes on at home," Richard said.
"So that side of the culture if you like comes through and she's very proud of that too."
We’d love to hear from you
Most viewed in A Current Affair
Ally Langdon breaks down as she opens up about death of best friend Gavin Larkin
Multi-aliased former bankrupt accused of ripping half a million dollars off unsuspecting businesses
Former NRL star finds new venture after footy
Talia and Ebony were physically abused by their mother. Then she was made into a TV star