Beth Potter takes bronze to become first Scot to win medal in individual event at Paris 2024

Beth Potter has become the first Scot to win a medal at an individual event at the Paris Olympics.

The 32-year-old from Glasgow claimed bronze in the women’s triathlon behind home favourite Cassandre Beaugrand on Wednesday morning.

The multiple World Champion triathlete and long distance runner was one of the favourites for gold but ultimately she could not match the pace of winner Beaugrand, with Switzerland’s Julie Derron in second.

The women’s race was able to take place as scheduled after the water quality in the Seine was deemed safe for swimming, with the delayed men’s race scheduled shortly after.

Tokyo silver medallist Georgia Taylor-Brown finished sixth, with the third British athlete Kate Waugh in 15th.

Finally, the early morning organisers’ meeting on Wednesday brought good news, with the river deemed swimmable for the first time since Friday’s deluge caused elevated levels of bacteria.

There was more rain on Tuesday night but the skies cleared as the athletes dived into the water below Pont Alexandre III, the Eiffel Tower providing the spectacular backdrop that had convinced organisers to take such a big gamble.

Defending champion Flora Duffy from Bermuda, who was made a Dame in the 2022 New York Honours following her Tokyo triumph, took the lead early in the swim but Potter and Taylor-Brown made sure they stayed in touch.

Potter emerged from the water in fifth, with Taylor-Brown 10th, and a lead group of 10 formed on the bike after Duffy was reeled in on the second lap.

The wet roads around central Paris caused several athletes to slip and fall but the leading contenders all stayed upright through the 40 kilometres and headed off on the 10km run.

The pace from the start was fierce and Taylor-Brown was among those unable to cling on as a lead group of four formed.

Beaugrand made her move early in the final lap and Potter could not go with her, the British athlete also losing touch with Derron and looking round often at France’s Emma Lombardi just behind her.

But Potter hung on for a medal, Team GBs third in a row in women’s triathlon at the Olympics.