Beth Potter wins triathlon bronze eight years after making Olympic debut on the track

Triathlon 31 Jul 24

From the track to triathlon, Team GB's Beth Potter soared to Olympic bronze on the streets of Paris 2024.

After making her Olympic debut in the 10,000m at Rio 2016, the Scot switched to triathlon after being inspired by Alistair and Jonny Brownlee's success.

Vindication came on the streets of Paris, as she crossed the finish line behind home hero Cassandre Beaugrand and Switzerland's Julie Derron for the bronze medal.

And despite having gold in her sights, the 2023 world champion was over the moon to clinch silverware to wrap up an incredible eight-year-long Olympic journey.

Iā€™m just so happy," said Potter, "I was going for the gold, but Cassandre [Beaugrand] and Julie [Derron] were just too good for me today. I'm super happy to come away with a bronze.

"Eight years ago, I watched Vicky [Holland] and Non [Stanford] on Copacabana, and I was on the track team.

"I've come a long way in eight years and I'm so happy to be here and win a bronze medal.

"I feel like I did it for me, but I also did it for everyone that has helped me in the past eight years and believed in me from day one and yeah, it's for them."

Reigning champion Flora Duffy led off from the swim, with Potter leaving the first transition in fifth and fellow Team GB athletes Georgia Taylor-Brown and Kate Waugh in 10th and 38th respectively.

Both Potter and Taylor-Brown immediately joined up with the leading pack as Waugh made up time on a rain-soaked bike course to sneak into 12th.

The bike course soon became a notable point of conversation, with multiple athletes seeing their Olympic hopes dashed after hitting the deck on the slippery surface, but Potter revealed that the wet conditions of Yorkshire had prepared her for this very moment.

"My coach told me to stay in the top five, try to stay towards the front, and mainly stay out of trouble," she added.

"I got caught up behind a couple of crashes on the bike, but managed to stay upright and was just trying to be sensible and not doing anything mad. Just be safe.

"It said it was gonna be dry, but it was obviously very wet.

"I live and train in Leeds, so I'm used to those conditions, and I've done many sessions with the boys in the wet, so I was prepared. I just didn't want to make any silly mistakes, so I just tried to stay as safe as possible."

Parisian Beaugrand stormed ahead on the run to take the win as Potter crossed the line in third. Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Taylor-Brown finished sixth overall, with Waugh wrapping up the Brits action in 15th.

Potter added: "This day has been in the calendar for a long time, so to come away with a medal ā€“ Iā€™m just over the moon."

Sportsbeat 2024

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