Seven years on, the 31-year-old Scot crossed the line first in the World Triathlon Championship Series finale in Pontevedra<\/a><\/strong>, proving to herself and any remaining doubters that the switch had been a resounding success.\u00a0<\/p> From winning a first pro race in 2017 to becoming European champion two years later, a first World Series podium and Commonwealth Games bronze last year, and then a first WTCS win in March<\/a><\/strong> followed by three more victories in this summer\u2019s series, it is a perfectly crafted career trajectory.<\/p> The success in Spain capped it off, meaning the Leeds-based triathlete had not only become world champion, but qualified for another Olympics \u2013 this time with a realistic medal chance \u2013 by hitting the toughest qualification criteria set by any country in the world.<\/p> Following the Brownlees, Alistair<\/a><\/strong> and Jonny<\/a><\/strong>, Non Stanford<\/a><\/strong>, Vicky Holland<\/a><\/strong> and Georgia Taylor-Brown<\/a><\/strong>, it makes Potter the latest in a long list of world champions to have prospered from the high performance training base in Yorkshire.<\/p> But while victories in Abu Dhabi, Montreal<\/a><\/strong>, the Paris Test Event<\/a><\/strong> and Pontevedra underline the season of her career so far, with Olympic qualification secured early, she\u2019s hoping for an even bigger celebration in Paris next summer. On current form it would be hard to bet against the world No. 1.<\/p> 220<\/em>: How did you feel having just won your first triathlon world title?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> Beth Potter: <\/strong>Tired and sore. I didn\u2019t get out of doping control until 9:30pm and still hadn\u2019t seen my mum and dad. I then ate a pizza, went to bed and was up at 5am the next morning to fly to Malibu [for Super League Triathlon]. <\/p> For so long I\u2019ve had people tell me I can\u2019t do something and I’ll never be good, so it\u2019s nice to be like: \u2018Well, I can do it and I did do it!\u2019 It\u2019s been a bit of a breakthrough year.<\/p> 220<\/em>: How much does it mean to have confirmed your Olympic qualification?<\/strong><\/p> BP:<\/strong> It\u2019s a massive weight off my shoulders. Doing two races [Paris Test Event and the Grand Final] with nothing going wrong wasn\u2019t an easy task, and I didn’t actually think I could do it at the start of the year. <\/p> I can now have a proper off-season break and know exactly what I need to do for next year. I don\u2019t have to worry about Yokohama [an early WTCS race that could act as a qualifier] and I can just prepare at home. It makes life a lot easier.<\/p> 220<\/em>: Do you find racing at elite level a pressurised environment?<\/strong><\/p> BP: <\/strong>I find there\u2019s a lot of pressure, but it\u2019s self-inflicted. The only thing that keeps me from not stressing before big races is going training. I get anxious about having to deal with the disappointment of not racing well. <\/p> I know it’s part of it, but I find it a hard pill to swallow. I was upset for weeks after Cagliari<\/a><\/strong> [WTCS, where Beth placed sixth] even though I hadn’t run for a month.<\/p> 220<\/em>: \u2026 why was there so little running?<\/strong><\/p> BP:<\/strong> I wasn’t very public about it but I finished a track session and couldn’t get off the floor or change my shoes. A scan showed it was a stress response in my femur, but we caught it early. <\/p> My first week back running was heading into Cagliari and because I made a small mistake on the second lap of the swim it got in my head and just snowballed. The whole race I made so many mistakes. <\/p> But in the end I’ve come a long way in a year if I\u2019m disappointed with sixth. I actually think it\u2019s a bit of a blessing now because it forced me to have a bit of time off running and then have a perfect build for Paris and Pontevedra.<\/p> 220<\/em>: With an eight-race WTCS season, you have to stay fit and healthy to come out on top. What has been the key to this?<\/strong><\/p> BP: <\/strong>It\u2019s all very well doing all the training, but if you can\u2019t turn up on the start-line in one piece what\u2019s the point? That\u2019s such a big part of it. I try to be responsible outside of training. I take all my vitamins, go to bed early and try to be professional. I have missed so many friends\u2019 weddings this year, but luckily they understand. <\/p> I had quite a lot of injuries as a runner and spent most of my time injured when I was at university in Loughborough. I think a lot of injuries come from running and I\u2019m not running as much now.\u00a0<\/p> 220<\/em>: The race in Pontevedra was billed as a showdown between France\u2019s Cassandre Beaugrand <\/a>(who now trains in Loughborough) and yourself. Having won six of the eight WTCS races between you this season, how do you view the rivalry?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> BP: <\/strong>It makes it more exciting. I wouldn\u2019t say we\u2019re friends, but we have a bit of banter. When she\u2019s on, she\u2019s on and is unbelievably good. I\u2019ve been waiting to be at that stage where we have that battle, and it was really enjoyable in Paris. <\/p> Well, I found it enjoyable. Maybe she didn\u2019t [Beth won with Beaugrand in second].<\/p> 2019 European Championship, Weert<\/strong> Victory in the Netherlands after running away from the field over the final 10km to win by almost a minute.<\/p> 2021 & 2022 Leeds WTCS<\/strong> Racing in front of home fans in Roundhay Park, and improving from seventh place in 2021 to fifth in 2022.<\/p> 2022 Montreal WTCS<\/a><\/strong> A first World Series podium behind Georgia Taylor-Brown and Beaugrand in a super sprint eliminator in Canada.<\/p> 2022 Commonwealth Games, Birmingham<\/a><\/strong> Holds off England\u2019s Sophie Coldwell<\/a><\/strong> to take bronze for Scotland as Bermuda\u2019s Flora Duffy<\/a><\/strong> retains her Commonwealth title in Sutton Park.<\/p> 2023 Paris Olympic Test Event <\/strong>The win on the 2024 Olympic course was her favourite success of the season and the first half of securing Games qualification.<\/p>Beth on winning her first world title\u2026<\/h2>
Beth on dealing with pressure\u2026<\/h2>
Beth on her secret injury\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>
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Beth on her racing rivalries\u2026<\/h2>
Beth\u2019s favourite triathlon races<\/h4>
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