Jessica Fox shed tears of joy after claiming a surprise silver in the K1 kayak competition.

The young Australian shed tears of joy as she reflected on an unforgettable performance in the K1 kayak competition.

The 18-year-old journalism student from Sydney produced a real life success story of her own.

Fox’s podium finish came almost 16 years to the day since her mother, Myriam, won bronze at Atlanta.

Indeed the Fox family are a talented bunch, with father Richard a former world champion and British Olympian.

“It’s been an amazing experience and I still can’t believe it,” Fox said. “My mum won bronze in Atlanta and now here I am winning silver, it’s an amazing thing to share.

“My goal was to make the final, so at the start I was just giving it everything.

“No matter what the result, to perform like that at an Olympic final is something I was proud of.”

Born in Marseille, Fox moved to Australia at the age of five when her father Richard was appointed coach of the Australian team before the Sydney Olympics.

There was no prouder person in the crowd than her mother who ran along the riverbank willing her daughter on.

She said: “Jess is the youngest of the competitors and has always surprised us.”