PARIS – Cassandre Beaugrand of France emerged as the winner of the women’s Olympic triathlon on Wednesday, successfully navigating through the challenging course. Despite concerns over water quality in the Seine River and slippery roads, Beaugrand triumphed in front of a supportive home crowd.
Beaugrand crossed the finish line on top of the Pont Alexandre III bridge, collapsing in a mix of exhaustion and elation. With a time of 1 hour, 54 minutes, 55 seconds, she secured her victory, edging out Julie Derron of Switzerland by a mere six seconds. Beth Potter of Britain captured the bronze medal.
Reflecting on her achievement, Beaugrand expressed, “It’s truly magical. This has been one of the best routes we’ve had in a long time, and I believe other athletes share the same sentiment. To accomplish this feat in front of our passionate crowd is simply unbelievable.”
In the men’s race, which commenced less than an hour after the women’s competition, Alex Yee of Britain emerged as the gold medalist, narrowly defeating Hayden Wilde of New Zealand by six seconds. Leo Bergere of France earned the bronze medal.
The men’s race was initially scheduled for Tuesday but postponed due to elevated levels of bacteria in the water. Early Wednesday, organizers confirmed that the latest water quality tests met the necessary standards.
The decision to hold the race in the Seine River was part of an ambitious plan to address the long-standing pollution issue. Despite concerns, organizers were resolute in their belief that the swimming portion of the triathlon and the upcoming marathon swimming events could be safely conducted in the river.
A steady rain subsided just before the start of the triathlon. Derron emphasized her focus on winning a medal, stating, “I was fully aware that it was race day. My sole concentration was on performing well and achieving my goal.”
The quality of the water didn’t occupy Derron’s thoughts, as she mentioned, “It felt normal. It was a bit chilly due to the rainfall before the race, but the water itself was ordinary. The only notable challenge was the strong current on the return leg, which made it more demanding.”
The most challenging section of the race proved to be the cycling portion on the wet streets. Romina Biagioli of Argentina encountered a spill during the second lap, with her water bottles rolling away.
Reflecting on the course conditions, Biagioli remarked, “The course was pleasant, but it became treacherous with the rain. It was a mix of both enjoyment and danger.”
Regarding the swimming segment in the Seine River, Biagioli admitted that she would have preferred more practice time to familiarize herself with the currents, saying, “I wasn’t concerned about the pollution. My worry stemmed from not having enough opportunity for trial runs before the actual race.”
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