{"id":23254,"date":"2023-06-08T12:18:40","date_gmt":"2023-06-08T10:18:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.220triathlon.com\/?p=139486"},"modified":"2023-06-08T12:39:55","modified_gmt":"2023-06-08T10:39:55","slug":"emma-lombardi-background-career-highlights-quotes","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/rss_feed\/emma-lombardi-background-career-highlights-quotes\/","title":{"rendered":"Emma Lombardi: Background, career highlights, quotes"},"content":{"rendered":"

French triathlete Emma Lombardi is starting to rack up some serious World Triathlon points \u2013 just in time for a home Olympics. Here’s everything you need to know about this rising star\u2026 <\/p>

By Nige Tassell\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 08 June 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

A strong all-rounder who, at the age of 21, already has world and European titles to her name, Emma Lombardi is the latest graduate from France\u2019s excellent school of triathlon. And she\u2019s starting to peak just in time for next year\u2019s Paris Olympics.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Who is Emma Lombardi?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Still extremely tender of age, Emma Lombardi has already shown plenty of flashes of brilliance in her short triathlon career to mark her out as one of the brightest talents to have emerged on that conveyor belt of A-grade French triathletes.<\/p>\n

From a swimming background, Lombardi only committed to a multisport career at the age of 18. The pool had been her priority up until then, but with a national junior triathlon title already in her palmares, the switch of codes made perfect sense.<\/p>\n

This was confirmed with a series of notable performances at elite level in both the European Cup and the World Cup.<\/p>\n

But Lombardi\u2019s true golden moment came in Edmonton at the WTCS Grand Final. Here she took gold in the 2021 U23 world championships, a commanding performance that no-one saw coming, least of all Lombardi herself.<\/p>\n

Her victory was all the more amazing when considering her short-course heritage, gained on the French grand prix circuit. This was her debut at Olympic distance.<\/p>\n

European medals would flow the following year (bronze in the elite women\u2019s race, gold in the mixed relay), and a couple of appearances on WTCS podiums since have failed to contradict the opinion that Emma Lombardi will be a very strong and highly decorated competitor for many years.<\/p>\n

Certainly don\u2019t bet against her sneaking onto the podium when the Olympics descend on Paris next year.<\/p>\n

How old is Emma Lombardi?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Emma Lombardi was born on 12 September 2001, making her 21 years of age.<\/p>\n

Emma Lombardi\u2019s career highlights<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""French\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Emma Lombardi runs out of the swim at the 2022 Cagliari WTCS race. (Credit: World Triathlon)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

June 2019: Pride of a nation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At the age of 17 \u2013 and with swimming still largely her sporting priority \u2013 Lombardi becomes the French national junior champion, taking the title in comfortable fashion in Grignon in the Alps.<\/p>\n

April 2021: A maiden elite top-10 finish<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Now 19, Lombardi is racing among the elite women and claims her first top-ten finish in a European Cup race in Mellila, the autonomous Spanish city on the mainland of Africa. She finishes eighth in a race won by her fellow Frenchwomen Cassandre Beaugrand<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

May 2021: An elite podium beckons<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A month later, in another European Cup race, this time in Caorle near Venice, Lombardi climbs onto an elite podium for the first time. She finishes third, just six seconds shy of winner Lena Meissner of Germany.<\/p>\n

May 2021: A first World Cup top 10<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Lombardi\u2019s impressive springtime continues when she takes sixth place in her first World Cup race in Sardinia.<\/p>\n

August 2021: On top of the world<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\""French\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
In her first-ever Olympic-distance race, Emma Lombardi breaks the tape first to be crowned the 2021 U23 world champion, in Edmonton, Canada. (Credit: World Triathlon)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

As impressive as Lombardi\u2019s performances have been this year, her true breakthrough comes in Edmonton at the WTS Grand Final. Here, after pack-leading displays both in the water and on the bike, she breaks the tape to be crowned the U23 world champion.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s something of a bolt from the blue. This is Lombardi\u2019s first-ever Olympic-distance race.<\/p>\n

August 2022: Lombardi claims European medal<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At the European Championships in Munich, Lombardi takes bronze, further demonstrating her middle-distance promise.<\/p>\n

Having lost time on the run to Non Standford<\/strong><\/a> and Laura Lindemann<\/strong><\/a>, she is nonetheless the first Frenchwoman home, claiming the scalp of her higher-ranked compatriot Beaugrand.<\/p>\n

August 2022: Golden girl<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\""L-R:\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
L-R: Cassandre Beaugrand, Dorian Coninx, Emma Lombardi and Leo Bergere celebrate winning mixed team relay gold at the 2022 European Champs, in Munich, Germany. (Credit: Andrej Isakovic\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Two days after her bronze, Lombardi upgrades to European gold when the French mixed relay quartet romp to victory. Despite her swim background, her bike leg is the day\u2019s fastest by a woman.<\/p>\n

October 2022: A maiden WTCS podium<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Showing that she\u2019s very much ready for the big time, Lombardi finishes second behind Britain\u2019s Georgia Taylor-Brown<\/strong><\/a> at the WTCS race in Cagliari<\/strong><\/a>, holding off the challenge of the USA\u2019s Taylor Knibb<\/strong><\/a>. Others she leaves in her wake include Taylor Spivey<\/strong><\/a>, Sophie Coldwell<\/strong><\/a> and Beaugrand.<\/p>\n

Another top 10 in the series comes the following month at the Grand Final in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n

May 2023: History repeats in Sicily<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\""GB\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Georgia Taylor-Brown (R) runs alongside Emma Lombardi (L) on their way to respective gold and silver at the 2023 WTCS Cagliari race. (Credit: Michael Steele\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Italy has always been a happy hunting-ground for Lombardi, confirmed by a second successive silver in the Cagliari leg of the WTCS series<\/strong><\/a>. Again, Taylor-Brown denies the Frenchwoman her first series race win.<\/p>\n

Emma Lombardi in quotes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

On seemingly coming from nowhere to win the U23 world title in 2021: \u201cI really didn\u2019t expect the result in Edmonton. It was my first Olympic-distance race and my first world championships. I was really shocked. \u2018No, this can\u2019t be happening!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

On following up her WTCS silver in Cagliari in 2022 with a repeat performance the following year on her return to Sicily: \u201cIt feels really good. I am beyond happy. Cagliari last year was such a good race and it didn\u2019t disappoint this year too.\u201d<\/p>\n

On her triathlon inspiration, Jess Learmonth<\/strong><\/a>: \u201cShe came from swimming too. She\u2019s really strong, one of the best athletes. She\u2019s really impressive.\u201d<\/p>\n

What\u2019s next for Emma Lombardi?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Still only 21, the 2023 season will be a season of consolidation and improvement for Lombardi, with the obvious short-term goal of a first WTCS win being high on her bucket list.<\/p>\n

Looking into next year, the Olympics arriving in her homeland will surely be the focus for both her and that endless procession of high-grade French triathletes.<\/p>\n

Having already fulfilled the selection criteria for the Test Event in August<\/strong><\/a>, Lombardi will be eyeing up a podium finish, at the very least, in Paris.<\/p>\n

Top image credit: <\/strong>Ina Fassbender\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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