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At 8am on Wednesday 31 July, 55 athletes will line up in Paris for only the seventh women’s individual triathlon in Olympic history, ready to put years of hard work and training into the chase for the biggest prize in sport: an Olympic gold medal. 

Among them, the defending champion and the only Bermudian ever to win Olympic gold: Flora Duffy. Starting a record-equalling 5th Games, both she and Tokyo silver medallist Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR) have had their preparations hampered by injuries but have recently returned to something approaching their very best. And with their remarkable abilities and determination, that could still be enough.

Among those standing in their way will be the two athletes who hoovered up the 2023 Series gold medals in their absence; defending World Champion Beth Potter (GBR) and Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA). The hosts also have last year’s no.3 Emma Lombardi and WTCS Yokohama champion Leonie Periault to call upon, while Germany’s resurgence is in the hands of Laura Lindemann, Lisa Tertsch and Nina Eim. Along with the USA and GB, they are the only teams to qualify three women, Taylor Knibb spearheading American hopes.

Save the date: Women’s Paris 2024 individual triathlon: 8am Paris time, Wednesday 31 July.

For a full run-down of the course including where to watch, click here.

DUFFY RIDES AGAIN

Olympic Champion. Four-time World Champion. Two-time Commonwealth Champion. Flora Duffy is already in the realm of being the greatest triathlete of all time. Victory in Paris would surely bring with it GOAT status once and for all.

The knee injury that took her out of racing for 18 months now repaired, and with no ill effects from an encouraging return to the top flight at WTCS Yokohama, Duffy has been able to focus on getting back to something like full firepower. The swim looks dialled, the bike is still one of the best on the circuit, the run likewise. As long as the body allows, this could be DuffyTime once more.

The famous battles with Georgia Taylor-Brown both in Tokyo and across the 2022 season that lit up triathlon could return, possibly for the last time, on the streets of Paris. Whether Taylor-Brown could have challenged Duffy all the way to the Olympic gold had she not suffered a puncture on the final lap three years ago, we shall never know. Whether she can outfox her great rival this time around, only time will tell. Sixth place at WTCS Cagliari was enough to put and doubts over her GB selection to bed, and she will likely be right there with Duffy again on all three disciplines.

WORLD CHAMPION Vs. HOME FAVOURITE

The title of favourite is rarely useful in triathlon, such are the numerous moments and multitude of factors that can influence a race. Taking form as the guide, however, it is hard to look beyond the French, and one person in particular - Cassandre Beaugrand.

Already a Series winner this year over both the Olympic and Sprint distances, when Beaugrand is in the zone, everyone pays the price. Among the last out of T2 in Hamburg, within 30 seconds she was on the front, after a minute, she had daylight over the field and never looked back.

Jogging it in ten seconds ahead of her rivals, that performance was a huge statement of intent, not least for the woman who beat her in the Championship Finals Pontevedra to win the world title last year, Beth Potter.

But Potter has been clear in her satisfaction with preparations to Paris, and as a former 10,000m runner, would no doubt relish being in a similar position for that second 5km. After all, it was what she also showed in the Test Event, where the control – and the gold - were entirely with the Brit.

GERMANS ON A ROLL

Wedged between the two on that Hamburg podium was Lisa Tertsch, the 25-year-old German who has proven herself every bit as much of a medal threat in Paris as her teammate and former Junior and U23 World Champion Laura Lindemann.

Coming out of the Hamburg water within 9 seconds of the front will have been almost as big a boost for Tertsch as out-sprinting Potter to the silver. Impeccable run form and a mighty sprint finish could sweep her to an Olympic medal, while Lindemann has flown under the radar so far in 2024, can never be written off as truly a big-day racer.

Expect Brazil’s Vittoria Lopes and Italian Bianca Seregni to be among the leaders out of the water, though the currents could throw the form guide out of the window as positioning in the Seine assumes more importance than ever.

TAYLOR-MADE FOR SUCCESS?

The USA’s Taylors will be on a mission in Paris too. Taylor Knibb was the first to qualify and will be fuelled by a Tokyo 2020 campaign she would rather forget. The prospect of an explosive bike leg to keep the likes of Potter and Beaugrand at bay for as long as possible is what the fans would love to see and is surely her best chance of success.

For Taylor Spivey, being on that wheel would be an equally appealing scenario towards the end of the 40km ride. The 33-year-old will be looking to deliver as she finally makes her long-awaited Games debut, and convert the incredible consistency she has displayed over close to a decade at the top, and on the biggest day of her career.

How the bike plays out will also have a huge impact on the likes of Tilda Mansson, the young Swedish breakout star of 2023 who has shown the incredible run speed she has in the locker and that could be dangerous if she can get out of T2 in touch with the front without cooking the legs completely.

DEBUT GAMES, BIG DREAMS

For Jeanne Lehair, the switch to represent Luxembourg meant breaking out of the shadows of the French team, ensuring WTCS starts that she has seized with impressive consistency. Strong across all three disciplines, she was able to stay the pace with Tertsch and Potter in Hamburg but will need the reserves to do so over 10km.

Britain’s Kate Waugh was also right there two weeks ago before having to stop to tie an unruly shoelace, her medal hopes there dashed. A 2022 Championship Finals silver and 2021 U23 world title have already proved that she is a big-race player, and could be once more in Paris. Rosa Maria Tapia Vidal can also be a threat as shown by her surprise silver at WTCS Yokohama and PanAm Games bronze last year, and she spearheads Mexico’s outside medal hopes.

At the other end of the experience spectrum is Rachel Klamer, the Dutch star enjoying a triathlon renaissance over the past 12 months and taking great form into her 4th Olympic Games. A wealth of big-race know-how and flushed with renewed confidence, Klamer could have one more trick up her sleeve in Paris and has shown she still has the kick to mix it with the best.

FRESH FACES ON THE START

There will be first triathlon appearances for Iceland and Guam, after Edda Hannesdottir and Manami Iijima ensured their places thanks to earning vital late points in the qualification period. Also on the World Triathlon development squad is Bermuda’s Erica Hawley and Colombian Maria Carolina Velasquez Soto, while Romina Biagioli (ARG) earns the Americas New Flag spot for the second successive Games.

For the full start list, click here.