Beth Potter didn’t even own a bike seven years ago – now she represents the British triathlon team and is one of the favorites for Olympic gold in Paris 2024. writes Milly McEvoy from Sportsbeat.
The 31-year-old made her Games debut over 10,000m in Rio 2016 before switching sports a year later and learning the hard way to master three disciplines instead of one.
Potter’s swimming, cycling and running career began in 2023 – she was crowned world champion and won the Olympic test event, securing early selection for her second Olympic Games.
“I started out as a swimmer, so I was swimming from a pretty young age, but when I started triathlon I hadn’t swum for eight or nine years,” Potter explained. “I didn’t even have a bike.”
“The other athletes obviously have a huge advantage over me. Many of the guys have been doing triathlons since they were ten or since they were teenagers.”
“As an adult, it’s hard to learn skills because the fear factor is already in you. You know what happens if you fall off your bike. You get hurt, I know that only too well.
“I think there are skills and techniques you can learn, especially on a bike, like riding in groups and riding in tight spaces.
“I think it was pretty tough and I ended up training with a group of kids to get better. I trained with 18-year-olds.
“And it’s just about trusting yourself, believing in your abilities and knowing that it’s not going to happen overnight.
“It will take time, and you are not running out of time. Even if it takes four or five years to get to the top, just be patient.”
The victory over favourite Cassandre Beaugrand on the streets of the French capital has further boosted the triathlete’s confidence ahead of her return to the Olympic stage next summer.
She added: “I know Cassandra will be the one to beat next year, but hopefully the fact that she’s the home athlete takes a little pressure off me so I can just go there and not necessarily have the weight of an entire nation on my shoulders.”
“I think it gives me a lot of confidence to have already won there last season.
“The way I won in Paris was not my typical way of winning a race. It came down to a sprint final with one of the best runners on the circuit and her strengths are more in the fast twitch stuff. So beating her gave me the confidence to win that way and in a different scenario.
“That was probably the race I least expected to win, so to do it that way and in that style on their home turf was great.”
Nutrition is another crucial part of Potter’s unique approach to preparation and Aldi, the official supermarket partner of Team GB and ParalympicsGB, supports all athletes with a monthly food voucher to keep them fuelled for training, competition and past Olympic Games.
Potter turned her life upside down in 2017 by moving to Leeds to train alongside the Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonny, but she doesn’t describe it as a sacrifice.
The doubts of many people haunted the triathlete and she often reminded herself that the Brownlees, who are both world champions themselves, would not waste their time with her if they did not believe in her.
Potter proved the doubters wrong by securing a ticket to Paris alongside Olympic silver medallist Alex Yee, who was selected by the British team.
“It’s really exciting,” Potter said.
“Competing in a second team and in a second sport is really something special, so I’m looking forward to a real Olympic year again.”
“Rio is a tough memory because I was so sick and wasn’t able to do my best. So I really hope that next year I can do it and be 100% healthy to do the best I can.
“A few years ago, people might have thought it was completely absurd that I wanted to compete in the Olympic Games in triathlon again, but secretly I always relied on myself.
“I will do everything I can to be in the best possible shape on that day. The rest is just in the legs.”
Aldi is the home of fresh and affordable food and is a proud partner of Team GB and ParalympicsGB, supplying athletes with energy through to Paris 2024.
