Born in Marseille, France, Jess’ family moved to Australia when she was four. She discovered her love and passion for kayaking through her parents, who are both renowned Olympic canoeists. Jess made her first international junior team in 2009 and won numerous junior events, including the Junior World Championships and the 1st Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

Jess competed at the Olympic Games London 2012, winning a silver medal at the age of 18. In 2014, she returned to the Youth Olympic Games as a Young Ambassador for Australia, mentoring 100 young athletes. Two years later, Jess represented Australia at the Olympic Games Rio 2016, winning a bronze medal – the second of her career.

2018 saw Jess claim an impressive two world titles, eight World Cup gold medals, and an award for Sportswoman of the Year – all whilst completing her bachelor’s degree in Social Science Psychology.

Outside of the sporting world, Jess likes to spend time with her family and enjoys cooking, reading, and painting in her spare time.

Tokyo 2020 saw Jess dominate the competition. Delivering a masterclass with a technically perfect run, she flawlessly navigated the course without penalties to secure a historic gold medal, solidifying her position as one of Australia’s most successful Olympians.

READ ABOUT JESS’ ROAD TO PARIS