Australian canoe slalom star Noemie Fox has said finishing just off the podium at her home world championships on Monday was "hard to stomach", while admitting it was difficult seeing a health scare sideline her sister.
The 28-year-old wasted no time in Paris last year forging her own path into the history books, winning gold in the first kayak cross event ever staged at an Olympics.
Jess Fox, a three-time Olympic gold medallist, watched from the sidelines as her sister achieved that medal in Paris.
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She did the same as Noemie began her campaign at the world championships in Penrith on Monday.
Noemie took to the rapids in the individual kayak cross time trials, finishing fifth.
A small mishap on the second barrier left her rattled for a moment, but the Olympic champion managed to recover and finish with gusto.
The roar of the crowd at Penrith Whitewater Stadium spurred her on as she charged home.
"It's less than half a second off the podium, which is quite hard to stomach," Noemie told reporters in Penrith post-race.
"I felt really calm and prepared, and that is the mindset you want coming into something like this, so that is something I am really proud of.
"I think it's a strong start and it leaves me hungry for more.
"This is my first taste of (a home crowd) as well. It was really, really cool.
"I heard some great screams on the banks and I think that is kind of what got me through the bottom half (of the course)."
The Fox sisters had dreamed of competing in a home world championships together, but Jess withdrew after having a tumour removed from her kidney.
With Jess sidelined, Noemie admits she is still adapting to being Australia's No.1 athlete in the sport.
"It is definitely a different position to be in," Noemie said.
"It took some time to process that [Jess wouldn't be here].
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"It is hard as a sister when you see someone work towards a huge goal and not be able to [compete]. It's just hard not having her as a teammate.
"Jess has been such an incredible support on the bank. I definitely want to make her proud. It's just hard not having her as a teammate.
"The way we've supported each other has been amazing and regardless of whether she was racing or not here, my approach was going to be the same.
"We'll miss her really deeply in the team event. We will still try to defend our title but not with Jess, which is quite sad."
Noemie was not the only Australian to take to the course on Monday with young talents Codie Davidson and Georgia O'Callaghan also competing in the kayak cross individual time trials.
Meanwhile, Australia's Tim Anderson delivered a strong result in the men's kayak cross time trials, finishing 10th.
"It is interesting going out but it was good," he told Wide World of Sports.
"We've obviously got to train on this course a lot, so I had good confidence that whatever happened I could work my way through it, technically, physically and mentally.
"That's kind of what happened. It never really goes exactly as you plan and you kind of just make it up as you go.
"It was good to go and get the nerves out."
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