Triathlon’s involvement at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games kicked off on Wednesday 31 July with a double-header of individual racing.
In the women’s race, Team GB were represented by Beth Potter, Georgia Taylor-Brown and Games debutant Kate Waugh.
World Champion Potter was the first of the British trio across the line, winning a bronze medal after battling France’s Cassandre Beaugrand (first) and Switzerland’s Julie Derron (second) for large parts of the race.
Taylor-Brown, who was a double medallist at Tokyo winning gold in the mixed team relay and silver in the women’s individual race, finished sixth. Waugh ended the day in 15th.
The men’s race saw Alex Yee and Sam Dickinson in action for Team GB. Yee came into the race as one of the favourites for the gold medal after winning the Test Event last summer, while Dickinson was making his first appearance at an Olympics.
Helped by teammate Dickinson on the 40km bike leg, Yee was in contention for the win across the majority of the run before dropping back from New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde. In the closing stages though the Brit found a second wind and burst past Wilde to claim the gold medal in one of the Games’ most memorable moments, going one better than he did three years ago in Tokyo.
Dickinson dropped out of the race at the start of the run after his efforts put Yee in position to go on and take gold.
The final triathlon event of the Games saw Team GB out to defend their mixed relay crown.
Yee started things off before handing over to Taylor-Brown in the lead. Her leg ended with the British side just behind the German team with Dickinson taking over for the penultimate leg. Potter raced the anchor leg for Team GB and after a tight photo finish with Team USA it was confirmed as a second bronze medal of the Games for Team GB.
The mixed relay bronze was Potter’s second of the Games, while it was Yee’s fourth Olympic medal making him the most decorated Olympic triathlete. Taylor-Brown also became the most decorated female Olympic triathlete with Dickinson claiming his first Olympic medal.
If you've been inspired by what you have seen this summer and want to give triathlon a go there are free events taking place as part of Briths Triathlon's Paris Inspired camapign
The swim, bike, run action hasn't finished in Paris just yet though. On Sunday 1 and Monday 2 Septmber ParalympicsGB will be reprsenyed by 11 paratriathltes and three guides as they all go for gold in the 2024 Paris Paralympics Games.
