Sydney University Sport athletes and alumni have continued to impress on the international stage, with strong performances at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Prague as preparations ramp up for next month’s World Championship in Oklahoma City.
Leading the charge was Jessica Fox, who produced a stunning double-gold performance in the women’s K1 and C1 events. The result continues an outstanding return to competition following a nine-month absence due to surgery, with Fox now collecting three medals across the opening two season’s World Cups.Prague marked her second international event back and reinforced her status as one of the sport’s leading athletes heading into the major championship later this year.
Fellow Sydney Uni representative Tim Anderson also delivered one of the best performances of his international stage. The Elite Athlete Program member and USYD alumnus progressed to the men’s K1 final, finishing 12th overall against a world-class field. Anderson then backed up his slalom result by reaching the kayak cross quarter-finals, finishing 16th overall.
Olympic champion Noemie Fox made her first World Cup appearance of the 2026 season in Prague. The EAP alumnus narrowly missed the women’s C1 final with a 13th-place finish before advancing to the Kayak cross quarter-finals and placing 12th overall. Following the intensity of the 2025 season, Fox has spoken about approaching competition with a renewed focus on enjoyment and process, which appears to be paying dividends early in her campaign.
The performance formed part of a strong overall showing by the Australian team, which continues to build momentum as the international season progresses. Attention now turns to World Cup 3 in Augsburg, Germany (12-14 June), before the World’s best paddlers converge on Oklahoma City for the 2026 World Championship in July.
