Britain’s Beth Potter secured her first world title and earned a spot in the 2024 Olympics by making a strong comeback in the run to win the women’s triathlon World Championship Finals in Spain on Sunday. Despite falling behind during the swim and bike sections, the 31-year-old delivered an impressive performance on the run to claim the gold medal, with fellow Briton Kate Waugh finishing in second place. France’s Cassandre Beaugrand took the third spot on the podium, narrowly beating Germany’s Lisa Tertsch, who had to serve a 15-second penalty.
Potter’s victory is the culmination of an exceptional season, which began with a series win and now includes qualification for her second Olympic Games. In the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, she competed in the 10,000-meter race on the track. With a total of 4,559 points, Potter finished at the top of the overall standings, ahead of French athletes Beaugrand (4,411) and Emma Lombardi (3,793).
“This season has been a dream come true, and I’m at a loss for words,” Potter expressed. “While my goal was to compete in the Olympics in Paris, winning the World Championships is an incredible bonus. Although I struggled during the swim and bike, I pushed myself harder and felt stronger throughout the race. I trusted my training and performed well on the run.”
Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City, editing by Pritha Sarkar.
