Noemie Fox is switching focus for the canoe slalom world championships in Oklahoma, with the kayak cross no longer the priority for the Olympic champion.
Fox was one of the stars of the Australian team in Paris in 2024, paddling her way to glory in the new kayak cross event to join her older sister Jessica as an Olympic gold medallist.
But the 28-year-old isn't expecting to become world champion in the event this week at the McClendon Whitewater Centre in Oklahoma City, which will also host the sport during the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
The 28-year-old has set her sights on earning more than one start at those Games.
In Paris, nations could only enter one athlete per event, which Jessica took, apart from the kayak cross that Noemie qualified for separately.
But that rule has changed with Noemie focused on earning qualification in the C1, which will then also grant her a spot to defend her kayak cross title and compete in the K1.
Athletes will contest nine races across two years to determine their Olympic ranking.
Fox said it had been difficult to step back from the discipline that made her an Olympic champion but she hoped it would pay dividends in two years' time.
"The canoe has kind of become the priority to qualify for the Olympics in 2028," the Sydneysider told AAP.
"It's just a bit of a easier qualification route, and I'm feeling really strong in the canoe so I've enjoyed kind of shifting that focus.
"For the two years leading into Paris I was very focused on kayak cross and that campaign was executed to perfection and to win in Paris was the most incredible experience.
"Since then, I've kind of taken up my (canoe) slalom a little bit more because the dream would also be to compete in slalom, which is something I haven't done.
"It would be great to have that opportunity to compete across all three disciplines, and the best way to do that this campaign is to qualify in the canoe."
Fox will be joined at the July 20-26 worlds by Jessica, who has won 14 titles alongside six Olympic medals including three golds.
The 32-year-old missed the 2025 world championships in Penrith after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour from her kidney.
After a nine-month absence she returned to racing this year and has already claimed three gold and one silver medal across the opening three World Cup rounds.
"It's been so inspiring to see her recovery, she's just come back in the most impressive way, and also the way she's really given herself grace to watch the patience she's given herself," Noemie said.
"Coming back on top as well it just shows the mindset that she has, unbreakable and and definitely the greatest of all time."
The sisters will join up with Kate Eckhardt, who won bronze in the K1 last year, in the team event that they last won in 2023.
Among other Australian paddlers, Kaylen Bassett will attempt to claim another world championship medal in the men's C1, with his brother Lachlan also competing in the same event.
Olympians Tristan Carter, Tim Anderson and Lucien Delfour have shown promise this season, all making World Cup finals across canoe and kayak events.
