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7 months ago
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Some of Australia's top medal hopes at this year's Paris Games are refusing to stay in the Olympic Village in order to give themselves every opportunity to excel on the world's biggest stage.
The canoeing, rowing and kayaking events are being held at the Vaires-sur-Marine Nautical Stadium on the city's western outskirts almost 40km away from the village - leaving competitors in the sports facing a four-hour bus trip to compete.
Gold medal hope Jess Fox - who has taken out a gold, silver and two bronze at previous Olympics and 14 golds at the world championships - is one big name who will skip the famous atmosphere at the village.
She'll be joined by the likes of Alexander Purnell, who took gold in the final of the men's coxless four rowing at the Tokyo Games, and sprint kayakers Jean van der Westhuyzen and Thomas Green, who also took golds in Japan.
Canoeist Jess Fox is one of Australia's best gold medal hopes in Paris - and she won't be staying in the village along with 14,000 other athletes
Neither will champion kayakers Jean van der Westhuyzen and Thomas Green (pictured after winning gold at the Japan Olympics)
'It's just time consuming in the day when you have to travel long distances,' he told News Corp.
'We're there for performance reasons, so if that's going to give us - which it will - the best chance to represent the country and try and win medals for Australia, then it's the right decision.'
Australian chef de mission Anna Meares - who won six Games golds for her country as a cyclist before becoming the team boss for Paris - said the canoeists, kayakers and rowers won't be the only competitors to base themselves outside the village.
'It's definitely a unique Games and being widespread [there will be] a lot of sub sites and satellite villages,' she said.
Australia's chef de mission in Paris, cycling great Anna Meares (pictured) said the spread-out location of Games venues means athletes from several sports won't call the village home
'It [the decision to base some athletes away from the village] was largely was up to the preparation phase when we were talking to sports around what do you need for the best outcome, and best environment, for your athletes.
'Is being in the village and commuting the best option, or do you require accommodation closer?
'And with that feedback from the sports, we then work to with them in trying to find the accommodation that best suited their needs.
'As an athlete, the less you can move and travel in those environments, the better.'
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