Tears of trauma were replaced by tears of joy as Beth Potter completed her journey from total beginner to triathlon bronze on the streets of Paris.
Just seven years after starting this sport from scratch, the 32-year-old Scot was savouring a magic moment after surviving a four-way push for the podium.
Gold, as expected, went to France’s Cassandre Beaugrand, with silver for Swiss Julie Derron. Potter kept her cool amid rising temperatures – and a River Seine course that was only decreed safe to swim at 4am on Wednesday morning – to clinch third.
‘Julie was setting the pace at the front,’ she said. ‘It was quick, four of us going into the last lap, and one of us was going to miss a medal. I just stayed calm and trusted my training.’
At the Rio Olympics in 2016, a bitterly disappointed Potter had walked off the track after coming 34th in the 10,000m. She decided to radically change course.
Quitting her physics teaching job, she threw herself into triathlon, learning the ropes from the Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonny. She moved to Leeds and left family behind. There were days and nights when mastering the tricky combo of swim, bike and run had her crying herself to sleep.
Super Scot Beth Potter shows off her triathlon bronze medal in Paris
Potter emerges from River Seine which was deemed safe for swimming just hours before
Scotland’s Potter, far left, keeps up with the leaders in the cycling leg of the event
And yet she became world champion last year. Victory in Paris would have been a Hollywood ending, but bronze was a fitting conclusion to years of sacrifice.
‘I was just so glad to get on the podium,’ she said. ‘I obviously tried to go for gold but it wasn’t to be. It’s come full circle from being at the Olympics in 2016 watching the triathlon to now getting a medal, it’s just mad.
‘It’s been hard work. I had to learn how to ride a bike and pick up swimming again. I’ve come a long way and it’s been an absolute roller coaster, but it’s been amazing.’
Potter was among the leaders the whole way from river to road, part of a pack of nine that broke away on the bike and then in a group of four that ran clear.
Potter comes home in third place, 15 seconds behind a grounded Beaugrand
Potter tries to take in her superb achievement after years of sacrifice
Potter, far right, takes a selfie with winner Beaugrand, centre, and second placed Derron
Emma Lombardi of France was odd woman out in the sprint to the finish as Beaugrand dropped her rivals, before Potter was left behind by Derron.
Beaugrand was roared to the tape, winning in one hour, 54 minutes, 55 seconds. Potter, 15 seconds behind, collapsed with exhaustion over the line.
Among those watching from the roadside had been one of her mentors, Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee.
‘The Brownlees have been a massive part of my journey,’ said Potter, ‘and they’re the reason I moved to do triathlon. I train with Alistair day in, day out, and he’s such a big part of my journey, and Jonny as well. I moved in with Jonny when I first moved to Leeds. They’re always the first to message me before and after races and they believe in me.
‘I had so many family and friends here and coaches and training partners. Not that I was feeling the pressure, but it was so nice I could have a really good performance and they were all there watching. I spoke to my mum and dad. It was a bit teary but they were very proud. I bought a camera for the Games to take pictures along the way.’
Potter now links up with men’s champion Alex Yee in the mixed team relay on Monday, with the Brits favourites for gold.
