How a small Slovak company propelled Jessica Fox to Olympic glory
The company has a surprise for Fox.
Australian Jessica Fox, perhaps currently the biggest canoe slalom star, who won two gold medals at the Paris Olympics, rides on boats made in Slovakia. They bear the name of the family company, which was founded more than 30 years ago by the Vajda brothers in an inconspicuous garage in Šamorín, southern Slovakia.
"She is very good to work with because she is open and knows what she wants. [Slovak canoe slalom legend] Elena Kaliská was like that too, among the current top athletes it is for example [Czech] kayaker Jiří Prskavec," explains one of the company's founders, Marcel Vajda Sr., as quoted by the Sportnet website.
Jessica Fox with a gold medal from the Paris Olympics. (Source: TASR/AP)Three boats for Fox
Fox has relied on Vajda boats since the beginning of her career. When the company developed special women's canoes, Fox was among the first to try them out.
She and her mother, who trains her, frequent the Slovak company's service tent at races or in their Bratislava workshop. Her family has a history in canoe slalom. She has won six Olympic medals including three gold, and 10 world championship titles, two of which are in the kayak cross discipline.
It is customary for her to share the joy of a successful race with Slovak boat builders.
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