2024 Paris Olympics LIVE: Team GB’s Beth Potter clinches bronze in the women’s triathlon with Diving and BMW action to come later

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Break: Bronze for Beth Potter!

It had already been a busy morning as Team GB’s Beth Potter took home a bronze medal in the women’s triathlon.

The event was given the green light this morning, despite concerns about the water quality of the River Seine.

Potter emerged from the swim portion of the race in the lead group, and maintained her position in the cycling event, with four women competing for the three medals in the 10K run.

The pre-race favourite, Cassandre Beaugrand, gave it his all to take gold and become the first French triathlon champion at the Olympic Games.

Potter, 32, finished third in the race behind Switzerland’s Julie Derron, giving Team GB their 13th medal of the Games.

Britain's Beth Potter after finishing third and winning a bronze medal in the women's individual triathlon on the Pont Alexandre III on day five of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France. Date of photo: Wednesday 31st July 2024. PA photo. Photo credits should read: David Davies/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior permission from the rights holder.
Paris 2024 Olympic Games - Triathlon - Women's individual - Paris, France - July 31, 2024. Beth Potter of Great Britain in action. REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel
Britain's Beth Potter (left) after her bronze medal-winning third place in the women's individual triathlon at the Pont Alexandre III on day five of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France. Date of photo: Wednesday 31 July 2024. PA Photo. Photo credits should read: David Davies/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior permission from the rights holder.
PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 31: Cassandre Beaugrand of Team France reacts after winning gold in the women's individual triathlon on day five of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Pont Alexandre III on July 31, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The men’s triathlon has started!

The men’s triathlon is now underway and Team GB’s Alex Yee will be hoping to improve on his silver medal from Tokyo 2020, along with fellow Australian Sam Dickinson.

Dickinson represented England at the Commonwealth Games, winning gold in 2022. He makes his Olympic debut today and hopes to follow in the footsteps of Beth Potter this morning.

The participants have started and the swimming portion of the triathlon has begun!

Paris 2024 Olympic Games - Triathlon - Individual Men - Paris, France - July 31, 2024. General view of athletes and the Alexander III Bridge after the start of the race REUTERS/Lisa Leutner
Paris 2024 Olympic Games - Triathlon - Individual Men - Paris, France - July 31, 2024. General view after the start of the race. REUTERS/Lisa Leutner

It’s not the first time this week that cyclists have fallen

There are concerns about the slippery conditions in Paris after Taylor Knibb fell from her bike during the women’s time trial on Saturday.

Even her mechanic slipped on the asphalt when he came to deliver her a new bike.

Team GB’s Anna Henderson then took silver in the time trial, but insisted she cycled ‘like a granny’ through the corners to avoid slipping.

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1722416458 843 2024 Paris Olympics LIVE Team GBs Beth Potter clinches bronze

Olympic triathletes suffer nasty fall

It’s not the first time this week that we’ve seen cyclists fall off their bikes due to slippery conditions in Paris.

During the women’s time trial on Saturday, several riders dropped out when they tried to ride through the bends at high speed. An athlete’s mechanic also slipped on the asphalt when he tried to give American Taylor Knibb a new bike.

There had been heavy rain overnight in the French capital ahead of today’s women’s triathlon, raising concerns about the cycling leg of today’s women’s triathlon.

Several riders slipped and fell off their bikes during the race, with some even having to abandon.

GuamManami Iijima was the first athlete to crash, with Brazilian Vittoria Lopes, German Lisa Tertsch and Belgian Jolien Vermeylen also affected by an incident.

Lotte Miller fell twice while cycling, after which the Norwegian dropped out.

Germany’s Laura Lindemann crashed with three laps to go and had to say goodbye to the chasing riders.

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PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 31: Lotte Miller of Team Norway is seen after a fall during the women's individual triathlon on day five of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Pont Alexandre III on July 31, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
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The moment Beth Potter won bronze!

Potter gave her assessment of today’s race, saying she tried to stay as far out front as possible to avoid crashing due to the slippery conditions in Paris.

“I just tried to stay in the top five, stay at the front and most importantly stay out of trouble,” Potter told BBC Sport.

‘I got caught on the bike after a few crashes, but I managed to stay up. I just tried to stay sensible and not get caught.’

There were concerns earlier today that the damp underfoot conditions in Paris could have an impact on the cycling leg of the event, as a rider fell from her bike during the triathlon. But Potter added that she was well prepared for the slippery conditions.

‘It said it was going to be dry but it was obviously very wet. I live and train in Leeds so I’m used to those conditions and I’ve done a lot of sessions with the guys in the rain. I was prepared and I didn’t want to make any stupid mistakes and I made sure I stayed on good wheels and tried to stay as safe as possible.’

‘I will support my fellow British athletes, so hopefully Alex [Yee] wins today.’

“I dug deep and found something else”

What an achievement for Beth Potter from Team GB!

After the race, the Glasgow-born triathlete collapsed to the ground, exhausted and elated after finishing third in the women’s triathlon.

The Scot previously competed in the 10,000 metres in Rio in 2016 and today won an Olympic medal in humid conditions in the French capital.

“I’m so happy. I wanted to go for gold but Cassandre and Julie were just too good for me today. Still, I’m super happy to come home with bronze,” Potter told BBC Sport.

‘I have achieved a lot in eight years and I am so happy to be standing here with a bronze medal.

“I did it for myself, but I also did it for everyone who helped me for eight years and believed in me from day one. It’s for them at home too.”

‘I dug deep and found something else.

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Good morning!

We’re back and preparing for a great day of Olympic action here at Mail Sport.

And there’s plenty of sport to sink our teeth into today! We’ve got all the live commentary, updates and analysis from Paris, but if you need a reminder, here’s all the live sport coming your way today!

  • Triathlon: The triathlon got underway this morning with Team GB’s Beth Potter taking bronze in the event. The men’s event gets underway at 9.45am BST with Team GB’s Sam Dickinson and Alex Yee in the field.
  • Artistic gymnastics: The men’s final kicks off at 16:30 (BST) with Jake Jarman and Joe Fraser in action.
  • Rowing: The men’s and women’s quadruple single sculls get underway later this morning with Tom Barras, Callum Dixon, Matt Haywood and Graeme Thomas set to race at 11.26 BST. Lauren Henry, Hannah Scott, Lola Anderson and Georgie Brayshaw are also in action in the women’s race at 11.38 BST.
  • To dive: Andrea Spendolin-Sirieix and Lois Toulson will start the women’s 10m synchronised event at 10am (BST).
  • BMX freestyle: Kieran Reilly will compete in the men’s BMX freestyle final at 13:45 (BST).
  • Canoe Slalom: Tokyo silver medallist Mallory Franklin will be hoping to add to Team GB’s medal haul in the C1 final, which takes place at 14:30 (BST).
  • Judoka: Jemima Yeats-Brown will compete in the women’s 70kg category later today.
  • Hockey: Great Britain women’s team kick off their match against South Africa at 09:30 (BST).
  • Golf: Tommy Fleetwood tees off at Le Golf National at 08:44 BST, while Rory McIlroy, representing Ireland, gets underway at 09:11 BST. Matt Fitzpatrick also tees off at 11:06 BST.
  • Swimming: Luke Greenbank will be aiming to improve on his Tokyo 2020 bronze medal in the men’s 200m backstroke at 19:37 BST. Team GB will also compete in the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay later tonight at 20:48 BST.

A busy day ahead! Here’s your Olympic breakfast briefing with Sir Steve Redgrave!

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Major updates

  • Olympic triathletes suffer nasty fall

  • The moment Beth Potter won bronze!

  • “I dug deep and found something else”

  • Bronze for Beth Potter!