The kayak cross at the Paris Olympics was exhilarating for two reasons. Firstly, it was introduced to the Games only this year. Secondly, it saw two Australian sisters, who happen to be some of the strongest paddlers in the world, come bow to bow.
On Sunday, Jess and Noémie Fox hit the water to determine who would progress to the quarter-finals the following day. The latter clinched the win, going on to win the gold medal. But despite Noémie’s victory, practically every headline still mentioned her sister Jess, a three-time Olympic gold medallist.
The kayak cross win by Noémie Fox (left) was described as stepping out of her sister Jess’ shadow. Why are so many siblings pitted against each other? Credit: AP “Noémie Fox emulates sister Jess by winning Paris 2024 gold with kayak cross victory,” The Guardian wrote. Elsewhere, the ABC described Noémie’s achievement as “stepping out of sister Jess’ shadow.
” For those with siblings, this may sound all too familiar. Whether it’s the fact that your sister owns a house while you rent, or that your brother got promoted at work while you stagnate, sibling rivalry can be as common as it is brutal. Why do so many of us struggle with these feelings of inadequacy, and is there a way to overcome them? Why do I feel like I’m living in my sibling’s shadow? Sibling rivalry is generally a normal part of family functioning, says Paul Rhodes, a lecturer at the University of Sydney and clinical psychologist specialisi.