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Jessica Fox has all but confirmed her qualification for the Olympics with a silver medal in the women's K1 final at the canoe slalom world championships.

Australia's Jessica Fox has missed out on an 11th gold medal by 0.42 of a second in the women's K1 final at the canoe slalom world championships in Spain.

Fox, Australia's most decorated canoe slalom athlete of all time, won silver after finished just 0.42 seconds behind Slovenian Eva Tercelj at La Seu on Saturday.

New Zealander Luuka Jones was a close third.

Fox says there was added pressure to defend her world title in the final because the winner automatically qualified for the Olympics, but the Australian has a secured a preliminary berth in Tokyo, pending a final nomination.

"I raced really well in that final and .042 is all that was missing between second place and first place and I don't know where they were. Maybe at the finish line, maybe in the middle section but I'm thrilled to be on the podium again," an emotional Fox said.

"I'm thrilled to be here and Eva put down an incredible run and Luuka as well, we are all within a second of each other and I think this is probably the tightest podium we've seen. It was such a hot final and I'm stoked to be on the podium.

"It's all unofficial I guess, but I'm emotional, really happy and really pleased to have put down a performance to earn that spot and I guess that's why I'm still thrilled with the podium.

"Obviously to win is really special but to be on the podium is still amazing especially when it's got this value and means that I booked my spot to Tokyo."

In the men's C1 semi-finals Ian Borrows and Tristan Carter finished 23rd and 27th, respectively.

Fox will be back in action on Sunday in the women's C1 semi-finals competing with her sister Noemie and Rosalyn Lawrence.

Meanwhile, Tim Anderson and Lucien Delfour have both qualified for the men's K1 semi-finals, also on Sunday.