Beth Potter claims triathlon bronze for Team GB at Paris 2024 Olympics

It has been eight years since Beth Potter returned home from Rio de Janeiro where she placed 34th in the 10,000-meter track event and realized that her goal of competing in the Olympics in athletics was not attainable.

She didn't have a bike and hadn't swum seriously in over ten years, but she had the drive and bravery to make a big change the next year. She packed up and moved to Yorkshire, quitting her job as a physics teacher to focus all her time on a new sport.

At 32 years old, she has achieved an Olympic medal in the sport of triathlon.

Winning the bronze medal in the triathlon event, she added to the success of her training group in Leeds, which includes Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, despite not finishing first like Cassandre Beaugrand and Julie Derron. She even lived with Jonny for almost a year while training in Yorkshire Dales. The Brownlee brothers, who usually compete in the Olympics, are now part of her coaching team.

They were standing by the Seine River to cheer her on. Alistair, the champion in 2012 and 2016, mentioned that he hopes she is not upset about not winning the gold medal. He thought the race was incredibly tough and she gave it her all. He also mentioned that it's impressive how much she has improved and her story is truly inspirational.

Potter expressed gratitude for the support of the Brownlees, noting that they are always quick to reach out and offer encouragement both before and after races. Their belief in him has been a significant factor in his athletic journey.

During an unexpected race that started at 4am after clearance was given for the River Seine, Potter showed strategic prowess but lacked the stamina to compete for the gold medal she previously earned in the World Championship.

After surviving a challenging 1500m swim in the Seine River, Potter found herself in fifth place due to strong currents. She quickly joined a leading group of nine for the 40km bike ride. The rainy weather had made the roads slick, and the course's cobbled sections near famous Paris landmarks caused several crashes.

Potter credited her skill at remaining standing to her consistent practice on the frequently wet streets of Leeds. Beaugrand, who trains nearby in Loughborough, also credited her ability to handle the rainy conditions to residing in England. “The people in England have been very supportive, so I'm grateful to them,” said Beaugrand, “I feel like I'm dreaming right now.”

Current title holder Flora Duffy was in the lead after the swimming portion of the race. The leading pack during the cycling leg also featured Georgia Taylor-Brown, who won the silver medal in Tokyo. However, the group quickly reduced to just four athletes after the second transition and the beginning of the 10km run.

Encouraged by the support of her fans, Beaugrand matched Derron's pace for the most part, with Potter and Emma Lombardi close behind.

It remained like that for about 8 kilometers until Beaugrand made her move and quickly created a significant lead. Derron was the strongest in chasing her, while Potter, who was clearly tired, managed to stay ahead of Lombardi. This performance justified her decision to switch careers and earn an emotional Olympic bronze medal.

"I was aiming for the first place, but Cassandre and Julie were better than me, so I am very pleased to have won the third spot," Potter mentioned. "Over the past eight years, I have improved a lot. I pushed myself really hard and discovered something new. My coaches advised me to stay within the top five, stay close to the leaders, and avoid getting into trouble. I am used to the weather conditions in Leeds, where I live and train, so I tried my best to stay safe. The crowd was making a lot of noise during the race."

After coming back from an injury, Taylor-Brown placed sixth, beating Team GB's Kate Waugh, who came in 15th. Taylor-Brown described the experience as tough, especially when they had to run under the bridge. She was glad to be in the leading group during the race but admitted feeling empty during the run.