Myriam earns top IOC coaching honour

The International Olympic Committee only bestows a Coach Lifetime Achievement Award to two people per year – and Jewish Sydneysider Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi is the 2022 female recipient, announced by IOC president Thomas Bach in Lausanne on December 2.

The former Olympic bronze medallist for France has been coaching canoe slalom for the last 25 years in Australia, and is the mother and coach of Tokyo Olympics gold medallist and nine-time world title winner Jessica Fox, Jessica’s younger sister Noemie, and their Australian squad.

“I’d like to thank all who have supported me in my career as a coach; this award is the pinnacle of sport achievement for coaches and I’m extremely proud,” Fox-Jerusalmi said. “It also puts canoeing, and Australia, in the international Olympic spotlight.”

Jessica said, “[Mum] has always been a strong advocate for female athletes, gender equality, and the importance of developing good humans before athletes … Her passion and vision in the sport is inspiring, and there’s no slowing her down!”