GB’s Yee wins thrilling triathlon gold with late charge
Great Britain’s Alex Yee wins sensational Olympic triathlon gold after Beth Potter battles to bronze in the women’s race at Paris 2024.
Great Britain’s Alex Yee produced a sensational sprint finish to claim Olympic triathlon gold, after Beth Potter battled to bronze in the women’s race.
In a dramatic conclusion on the banks of the River Seine at Paris 2024, Yee upgraded his Tokyo silver as he overhauled rival Hayden Wilde in the closing stages.
Yee, 26, crossed the line after one hour 43 minutes 33 seconds to finish six seconds clear of New Zealand’s Wilde, who won bronze three years ago and looked set to triumph after opening a 15-second lead on the run.
However, Yee displayed his class to time his finish to perfection after being led out superbly by team-mate Sam Dickinson, who sacrificed himself on the bike leg to aid Yee’s bid.
That success came two hours after reigning world champion Potter, 32, held on for third as Cassandre Beaugrand emerged victorious from a lead group of four to deliver gold for host nation France, who also celebrated Leo Bergere’s men’s bronze.
Beaugrand, 27, crossed the line in one hour 54 minute 55 seconds to win the women’s race, six seconds ahead of Switzerland’s Julie Derron and 15 clear of Potter, who finished 34th in the women’s 10,000m at Rio 2016.
The men’s race was postponed by 24 hours on Tuesday after the water quality in the River Seine failed to meet required standards following heavy rainfall over the weekend, but both events were cleared to take place on Wednesday morning.
The streets of central Paris were lined by outstanding support for a bumper morning of Olympic triathlon action, which delivered double medal delight for Team GB.
Great Britain have won more triathlon medals than any nation since the sport obtained Olympic status at Sydney 2000, with Yee’s triumph the nation’s fourth gold and ninth medal overall in seven Games – with the mixed relay to come.
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Yee produces remarkable finale to triathlon double-header
The men had their Olympic preparations disrupted after a decision was taken to postpone their race fewer than five hours before it was due to start on Tuesday.
But, following improved weather, water analyses at 03:20 on Wednesday were deemed compliant by World Triathlon and the men’s and women’s races were able to go ahead back-to-back, producing enthralling drama watched by huge crowds.
In a stunningly unselfish move to aid his team-mate’s gold medal bid, Dickinson, selected for Paris over Jonny Brownlee, pushed the pace on the 40km bike leg and pressed on at the start of the 10km run before easing up and pointing at Yee to signal it was now over to him.
Only Wilde, winner of bronze behind Yee in Tokyo, could follow that pre-planned move, but it was the 26-year-old New Zealander who appeared to have superior legs and established a 15-second advantage at halfway in a two-man race for gold.
Yee’s deficit was 14 seconds at the start of the final 2.5km lap. He continued to track Wilde before making his decisive move inside the final 500m as Wilde began to tire, leaving his rival unable to respond in the final metres as he completed a remarkable fightback.
It meant Yee, who gripped the clutched tape in disbelief as he crossed the line, emulated two-time champion Alistair Brownlee as the second Briton to win the individual men’s triathlon title at an Olympic Games.
Potter’s triathlon switch delivers Olympic medal moment
It was one of the most remarkable moments in recent triathlon history which helped inspire Potter to make the switch to the multi-sport event, following her first taste of Olympic action in 2016.
When she watched as Alistair Brownlee helped carry struggling younger brother Jonny over the finish line in a dramatic conclusion to the 2016 world series, she knew where her future lay.
Moving to Leeds to train with the Brownlees, former physics teacher Potter has maintained an upward trajectory and won her first major medal with Commonwealth bronze in 2022 before securing a first world title in 2023.
With that success asserting her as one of the Olympic gold medal favourites in Paris, Potter lined up with the additional confidence gained by winning the Olympic test event here in Paris last August.
In the end, with her chances of victory gone, the Briton gauged her final effort to perfection to outlast French athlete Emma Lombardi and secure her first Olympic medal.
“I’m so happy. I was going for the gold but Cassandre and Julie were just too good for me today and I’m super happy to come away with the bronze,” Potter told BBC Sport.
“I’ve come a long way in eight years. I did it for me but I also did it for everyone who has helped me in eight years and believed in me from day one. It is for them back home as well.”
Defending champion Flora Duffy, of Bermuda, dominated the opening 1500m swim which saw many athletes struggle against the river’s current.
But she faded after a chaotic 40km bike leg, which saw several falls on roads greased by morning rain, and ended fifth, behind an intense race for gold.
Beaugrand eventually broke the resistance of her gold medal rivals to delight the huge home crowds lining the streets, and it was Derron and Potter who were able to find the strength at the conclusion of a gruelling race to make the podium.
Tokyo runner-up Taylor-Brown was sixth, one minute 25secs off the medals, while Olympic debutant Kate Waugh was 15th.