In a few intense moments along the Seine, Team GB anticipated gold, received silver, and then saw their position changed to bronze due to a misjudged photo-finish. The mixed triathlon, showcasing Paris’s iconic landmarks, was always destined to be a visual feast. However, it also delivered an adrenaline-pumping performance.
As the finish line approached on the Pont Alexandre III, three teams were fiercely competing for gold. Ultimately, after 1 hour 25 minutes and 39 seconds of racing, the decisive moment came down to just one second, marking the victory for Germany’s Laura Lindemann, who secured gold for her team. Taylor Knibb from the USA and Team GB’s Beth Potter followed closely to claim silver and bronze, respectively.
Initially, organizers declared Britain the silver medalists. However, just as the American team was heading for the medal ceremony to accept what they believed was bronze, the results were reversed.
Mike Cavendish, the GB triathlon performance director, stated he had no issues with the decision. “Immediately upon crossing the line, they analyzed a still from the video, which isn’t considered the official photo-finish,” he shared. “When we reviewed it, it was incredibly close, yet it was evident.”
“While the team would have preferred silver, that feeling fades quickly when they realize it’s still an Olympic medal. It was an exceptional race and a great promotion for our sport; any disappointment quickly dissipates.”
France entered the event as the favored contenders, with teams consisting of four athletes required to complete a 300m swim, a 7km bike ride, and a 1.8km run before tagging their teammate. However, their chances diminished on the first leg when Pierre Le Corre collided with New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde on the bike, only to face further misfortune when his chain malfunctioned.
“I managed to rise quickly after the crash and thought it was manageable,” Le Corre explained. “No issue, just five seconds lost. But the chain issue cost an additional 10 to 15 seconds.”
After the first leg, Alex Yee and Team GB led by 3 seconds, with Germany in second place and France trailing in last, 40 seconds behind. The leading positions remained the same at halfway, thanks to strong performances by Georgia Taylor-Brown and Lisa Tertsch. However, a remarkable third leg from Sam Dickinson put the British team 5 seconds ahead as he handed off to Potter.
Given Potter’s impressive running history, including competing in the 10,000m at the Rio Olympics, Team GB appeared to have the upper hand.
Meanwhile, the USA team was 21 seconds behind in sixth place. Nonetheless, an extraordinary bike segment by Knibb enabled her to close the gap on Lindemann, setting the stage for a fierce contest against Potter.
At this point, it was evident that the medal contention lay with Germany, the USA, and Great Britain. The 1.8km run favored Lindemann, while Potter struggled to maintain her speed towards the finish.
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“The running segment was challenging,” Potter admitted. “I think I was fatigued from the bike. I fell a bit behind on the first lap, but I managed to rejoin the mix and gave it my all in the final 200 meters. I hoped for silver, but we ended up with bronze; it’s still a medal.”
Naturally, there were concerns regarding the Seine’s water quality, with Cavendish wishing the team could have practiced in the river. Nevertheless, he emphasized that racing was the right choice.
“The crowd was three or four people deep this morning at 5 am,” he noted. “That wouldn’t happen at the center of Paris. Despite the less-than-ideal circumstances, it was a fantastic event that will be remembered for its spectacular nature. People will soon forget about the water quality.”
Meanwhile, American athlete Morgan Pearson described the situation as “a crapshoot”—not about the water’s condition but in reference to the outcome of the race.
However, Pearson did later describe the water as “quite brown,” while also expressing concern, saying: “We were constantly glancing out the window thinking: ‘Oh no, it’s raining again.’”
