Fabulous Fox sisters headline Australia’s Jewish Olympic successes

Australia is revelling in the glow of its most successful Olympic campaign ever after Paris 2024 officially ended on Monday morning. The land down under, girt by sea and punching above its weight, returned its best ever gold medal haul and finished just one medal shy of the greatest ever medal tally in its Olympic history.

While our heroes will be celebrated with public gatherings in capital cities over the coming weeks, the Australian Jewish community will raise many l’chaims to the athletes who represented us so brilliantly on the world stage.

The collective effort was headlined by the heroics of the Fox sisters in the canoe slalom events, where legendary paddler Jess Fox cemented her standing as the best in the world. Having been bestowed the honour of being one of Australia’s co-flag bearers at the opening ceremony, Fox set out on a mission to clean sweep the three kayak events, including the elusive K1 (kayak) she had been chasing across four Olympic campaigns.

After a flawless final run and a nervous wait as the rest of the competition around her crumbled, Fox not only secured her elusive medal in the K1 but then defended her C1 (canoe) crown in dominant fashion.

But the moment to savour at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, and quite possibly the moment of the Games for the Australian delegation, was reserved for the younger of the Fox sisters, Noemie, who joined her older sister as an Olympic champion.

Noemie emerged from her sister’s shadow after paddling her way to the finish line in the women’s kayak cross event in a dramatic final. It did not take long for the celebrations to get underway, with Jess dramatically jumping in the water to celebrate with her younger sister, followed soon after by mum and coach Myriam and father Richard, who couldn’t leave the Nine commentary booth quick enough.

It wasn’t just the Foxes who brought home hardware from Paris, as Melbourne racewalker Jemima Montag completed her second Olympic campaign with two bronze medal finishes.

After declaring to The Jewish Independent last month of her ambition to be one of the “best in the world” with her new-found confidence, Montag finished on the podium in the Women’s individual 20km racewalk before powering home to the medals again in the mixed racewalk marathon relay event with teammate and training partner Rhydian Cowley.

Also among the medals was water polo star centre-back Sienna Green. The 19-year-old took home a silver medal as part of the Aussie Stingers’ undefeated run to the gold medal game against Spain, where they were defeated 11-9.

Green featured in every game for Australia throughout her maiden Olympic campaign, including scoring three goals herself.

Elsewhere, Alexandra Kiroi-Bogatrevya placed 22^nd in the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-round event.

The Commonwealth Games gold medallist told The Jewish Independent about her desire to “elevate” the sport in Australia. That desire was  elevated by a memorable debut Olympic campaign.

Jessica Weintraub also placed admirably in her debut Olympic Games as part of the rhythmic gymnastics group all-around routine, where Australia placed 11^th in qualification -Australia’s best result ever in this event.

Josh Katz, competing at his second Olympic Games in the men’s 60kg judo, bowed out of the competition in the round of 32.

Israel also returned its best medal haul at an Olympic Games. Amid a slew of security and safety concerns, death threats, protests and tension, the Israeli team won seven medals, (one gold, five silver and one bronze), with six of them coming in one day.

Tom Reuveny claimed the only gold in the men’s windsurfing sailing in the iQFoil discipline, while reigning Olympic champion Artem Dologopyat claimed a silver medal in the gymnastics floor exercise.

The United States also celebrated their gold medal-winning Jewish athletes, with Amit Elor claiming gold in the women’s 68kg freestyle wrestling while Maia Weitraub and Jackie Dubrovich claimed gold in the women’s fencing team foil.

Claire Weinstein was among the USA 200m freestyle relay team which won a silver medal behind Australia in the pool. Sarah Levy also picked up a bronze medal as part of the USA women’s rugby sevens team that defeated Australia in the bronze medal playoff game.

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