Tears of sorrow transformed into tears of elation as Beth Potter accomplished her remarkable transformation from a complete novice to claiming triathlon bronze in the heart of Paris.
A mere seven years after diving into the sport from the ground up, the 32-year-old Scot was relishing an unforgettable moment after navigating a fierce four-way battle for the podium.
The gold medal was claimed by France’s Cassandre Beaugrand, while silver went to Switzerland’s Julie Derron. Potter maintained her composure amidst rising temperatures and a River Seine course that was only cleared for swimming mere hours before the event, securing third place.
“Julie was pushing the pace at the front,” she shared. “It was fast, with four of us entering the final lap, and one would inevitably miss out on a medal. I just remained composed and trusted my training.”
At the Rio Olympics in 2016, Potter faced a crushing disappointment, finishing 34th in the 10,000m and opting for a complete change of direction.
Leaving her role as a physics teacher behind, she immersed herself fully in triathlon, taking cues from Alistair and Jonny Brownlee. She moved to Leeds, leaving her family behind. There were many nights when the challenges of mastering the delicate balance of swimming, cycling, and running brought her to tears.
Super Scot Beth Potter shows off her triathlon bronze medal in Paris
Potter emerges from River Seine which was deemed safe for swimming just hours before
Scotland’s Potter, far left, keeps up with the leaders in the cycling leg of the event
Yet, astonishingly, she was crowned world champion last year. While a victory in Paris would have been a cinematic conclusion, the bronze symbolizes years of dedication and hard work.
“I was just overjoyed to reach the podium,” she reflected. “Of course, I aimed for gold, but it wasn’t meant to be. It feels surreal to go from attending the Olympic triathlon in 2016 to standing on the podium now—it’s unbelievable.”
“The journey has been challenging. I needed to learn how to ride a bike and get back into swimming. I’ve traveled a significant distance, and it’s been a true roller coaster, but overall it’s been fantastic.”
Potter was a front-runner throughout the event from river to road, forming part of a nine-person group that broke away on the bike, and later, a group of four that pulled ahead.
Potter comes home in third place, 15 seconds behind a grounded Beaugrand
Potter tries to take in her superb achievement after years of sacrifice
Potter, far right, takes a selfie with winner Beaugrand, centre, and second placed Derron
Emma Lombardi from France was the odd one out in the sprint to the finish as Beaugrand surged ahead, leaving Potter behind as Derron made her move.
Beaugrand crossed the finish line first, clocking in at one hour, 54 minutes, and 55 seconds. Potter finished just 15 seconds later, collapsing from fatigue as she crossed the line.
One of her mentors, Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee, was among the spectators cheering from the sidelines.
“The Brownlees have been instrumental in my development,” said Potter. “They’re the reason I transitioned into triathlon. I train with Alistair daily; he plays such a significant role in my journey, as does Jonny. When I first came to Leeds, I lived with Jonny. They consistently reach out to me before and after races and have unwavering faith in my capabilities.”
“Having so many family, friends, coaches, and training partners here has been wonderful. It wasn’t that I felt pressured, but it was heartwarming to deliver a solid performance with them all cheering me on. I spoke to my parents; it was emotional, but they were incredibly proud. I even bought a camera for the Games to capture moments along the way.”
Potter is set to partner with men’s champion Alex Yee in the mixed team relay on Monday, with the British duo favored to win gold.
