Overview

• After a costly gate error in the Paris Olympic final, the Tokyo champion traveled alone in February to Penrith for six weeks of work with the French team to find new impetus.
• She was involuntarily involved in a car accident during the trip, an experience she says heightened her stress resilience and confidence.
• She then dominated the Australian Open on the World Championship course, winning by 3.01 seconds ahead of local contender Noemie Fox.
• Funk aims to reestablish race flow on the Penrith Whitewater Stadium and plans her first start in the team event on Oct. 1.
• Australian star Jessica Fox will miss the home World Championships following removal of a tumor from her left kidney, ending a 15-year run of starts.