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GERMANY GOLD IN THREE-WAY SPRINT FINISH AT PARIS OLYMPIC TRIATHLON MIXED RELAY


IN A RACE THAT CAME DOWN TO THE LITERAL LAST SECOND, GERMANY EDGED OUT TEAM USA
AND GREAT BRITAIN TO TAKE ITS FIRST-EVER OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL IN TRIATHLON MIXED
RELAY.

Published Aug 5, 2024

Tim Heming
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Photo: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images

In a race that went down to a three-way sprint finish, Team Germany edged out
Team USA and Great Britain in the triathlon mixed relay race at the Paris
Olympic Games. Photo: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images

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If the triathlon mixed team relay wasn’t already exciting enough, a three-woman
sprint to the line made for a majestic ending to the event and the triathlon
program at the Paris Olympic Games. It was Germany who took the tape, with USA
and Great Britain separated only by a photograph.

Germany added the Olympic crown to the world title they had won just a few weeks
earlier in Hamburg, and showed the value of the team over any individual
performance. Anchor Laura Lindemann’s finishing kick proved decisive, but her
teammates – Tim Hellwig, Lisa Tertsch, and Lasse Luehrs – each played a critical
part in the win.

And for all the trials of the individual races for Team USA, the triathlon mixed
relay was a masterclass of epic proportions as the Americans claimed Olympic
silver – not just the four athletes who all played their part in a barnstorming
performance, but the coaches and selectors, who came up with the shrewdest of
game plans to see them through. But the American MVP was indeed anchor Taylor
Knibb, who pulled off a spectacular swim, followed it up with a blazing-fast
bike, and emptied the tank on the run in her first-ever sprint finish after an
objectively challenging nine days.

There hasn’t been an Olympic triathlon podium without a Great Britain flag
hoisted since the women’s race in 2012, and the Brits were in ascendancy for
most of the race before Beth Potter was overhauled in the final leg for bronze.

Also, it wasn’t the morning the French crowd had wanted, as the hopes were
derailed on the first leg, when Pierre Le Corre clashed with New Zealand’s
Hayden Wilde and lost vital seconds that they could never fully recover—the
excitement, jeopardy, and ultimately heartbreak of the mixed relay, encapsulated
in a moment.


YES, THE SEINE WAS A FACTOR (AGAIN)

The only certainty of triathlon events at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games has been
uncertainty. Expectations have changed from the usual pre-race musing over what
conditions we might wake up to – at these Games, we weren’t sure if there would
even be a race. The past week, in particular, has been genuine touch-and-go as
to whether the water quality or the current would allow a race to proceed at
all. First, the pre-race practice swims were cancelled due to poor water
quality; then just hours before the men’s individual triathlon was slated to go
off, the race was postponed a day for the same reason. Paris will forever be
remembered as the Games where mental as much as physical resilience was required
– perhaps too much so.

At a request of the athletes, the decision on the mixed relay was made the
evening before, rather than 4 a.m., to help preparation. In a memo sent to
national federations, World Triathlon stated it “took the decision to move ahead
with the Mixed Relay competition,” saying that “Seine water quality levels at
the triathlon venue have improved in recent hours, with forward looking [sic]
analysis indicating that water quality will be within the levels acceptable by
World Triathlon.”


LAST-MINUTE TEAM CHANGES AT PARIS OLYMPIC TRIATHLON RELAY

There had been few reports of sickness following the individual races, with the
only athletes reporting problems being the ones too ill to start the mixed relay
event. The first misfortune fell to Belgium’s Claire Michel, a bacterial
infection cited as the reason for her withdrawal, and with no reserve woman
named for the quartet, the self-styled Belgian Hammers pulled out on the eve of
the competition, leaving 15 teams remaining.

In a bizarre merry-go-round, Switzerland’s Adrien Briffod was also said to have
GI issues and replaced by Simon Westermann, who didn’t compete in the individual
race and hadn’t come into contact with the waters of the Seine. But then
Westermann fell sick himself, and Syvain Friedlance was called up as a
replacement. Oddly, Briffod then took to social media, posting on Instagram
stories, “Big joke. I am ready, back on my feet since yesterday morning AND in
Paris.” Still, he remained off the Swiss roster for the race.

Other teams, perhaps wisely, kept their cards close to their chests. If there
was sickness or drama behind the scenes, no sign of weakness would be shown
before the event. Few needed the further distraction the inevitable inquisition
would bring.


THE PARIS OLYMPIC TRIATHLON RELAY CONTENDERS

After Wednesday’s bumper double-header of the women’s and men’s individual
triathlon races, expectations were sky-high for another thrilling contest – most
of all for the French team. No triathlete in the quartet of Le Corre, Emma
Lombardi, Leo Bergere, and Cassandre Beaugrand had finished lower than fourth in
the individual races, and they had the newly-crowned Olympic champion on the
anchor.

And then, of course, there was Team Great Britain, the Tokyo gold medalists with
returning players Alex Yee, fresh off a gold-medal surge in the men’s individual
race at the Paris Games. He was joined by Potter, who took bronze in the
individual women’s race, as well as Georgia Taylor-Brown, who raced with Yee for
Gold in Tokyo, and Sam Dickinson, who played an important role in Yee’s
gold-medal win just days before.

Team USA were experiencing a far more sobering Olympic experience. The team’s
decision was to start with Seth Rider and Spivey – all-rounders to keep the team
in contention – before playing the ace hands of Morgan Pearson’s run leg and
Knibb’s bike power as the race splintered later.

The Germans lined up on the pontoon as the Paris test event winners (albeit when
it was reduced to a duathlon) and world champions from Hamburg in July. Like the
Americans, the individual races hadn’t gone the way they wanted, either. Hopes
had been particularly high for the German women, but both Lindemann and Tertsch
lost time after crashing on the bike leg and finished eighth and ninth in the
individual events, respectively. They wanted redemption – and this was their
last shot for it at the Paris Games.


PARIS OLYMPIC TRIATHLON RELAY RESULTS: LEG 1

The first athletes of the triathlon mixed relay dive in to the Seine River at
the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. (Photo: Marijan Murat/picture alliance via Getty
Images)

As soon as the draw was finalized for spots on the starting pontoon, the matchup
of Yee versus Wilde proved to be most enticing leg-one showdown. The tactic of
fielding the strongest male athlete first was common one, with the underlying
wisdom that while you can’t win the race on the first leg – there’s the
potential to be isolated – and lose it.

The format was a 300-meter swim, followed by 36 steps up to transition on the
Pont Alexandre III bridge, a two-lap, 7-kilometer bike course on the
Champs-Elysees and Saint Germain Boulevard, and a 1.8-kilometer, two-loop run.
Then it was tag your teammate, and go again.

As with the women’s individual triathlon race, there was hesitation again over
the starting horn. But the action was happening, and within a few seconds
athletes were already at the first buoy as they swept downstream.

The challenge on the return was whether to cut the corner for a straighter line
to the swim exit, or head towards the bank, where the flow was weaker. Spain’s
Alberto Gonzalez Garcia made the best choice – gambling the current had died
down from the individual races – and gained five seconds on on the field, with
Miguel Hidalgo (BRA), Tim Hellwig (DEU), and Rider hot on his heels.

Gonzalez Garcia had the road to himself until he swept around over Pont des
Invalides on the first lap and was swept up by the large chase pack that
contained the bulk of the field, with Batista battling hard to regain touch, and
Wilde – after giving up time in the swim – dragging the remaining stragglers
into the group.

Drama struck for the French on the final u-turn before transition, where Le
Corre collided with Wilde, whose wheel slipped out, and lost vital seconds
trying to replace his chain. It was exactly the opportunity the other nations
needed to distance the French.

On the run, Yee, Hellwig, and Switzerland’s Max Studer opened a gap as the field
started to split, Yee picked up the pace as he hurtled down the ramp to tag
Taylor-Brown in the lead with a total split of 20:03.



Behind them, Hellwig tagged in Tertsch three seconds behind, followed by the
handoff to Julie Derron (SUI) five seconds down from the front. Italy’s Gianluca
Pozzatti surged to tag in Alice Betto in fourth place, followed by Norway and
Australia.

When Rider reached Spivey, Team USA was in tenth place; meanwhile, Le Corre had
lost 40 seconds, meaning Lombardi and Team France would start the second leg
dead last.


PARIS OLYMPIC TRIATHLON RELAY RESULTS: LEG 2

Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR) leads the bike on leg 2 of the Paris Olympic mixed
team relay. (Photo: Tommy Zaferes/World Triathlon)

Tertsch (DEU) took the smartest line around the buoys to close the gap upfront,
with Betto (ITA) moving into third. Team USA’s Spivey brought a superb swim to
move into sixth place. Lombardi had picked off the Kiwis and Austrians to move
the French back up in the field, but the home nation still had a huge amount of
work to get back into contention. At first, it looked like Lombardi would have
Van Coevorden to work with, but the Aussie took a tumble coming out of
transition as she tried to mount her bike.

But it was Taylor-Brown (GBR) who surged to the front on the bike, the Brit
taking the opportunity to prove a point after placing sixth in the women’s
individual triathlon race. She was clearly enjoying her solo time trial out
front, using the u-turns to check her gap back to the chasing pair of Betto and
Tertsch that would soon be swallowed up by the pack, driven by Derron (SUI)
pulling Australia, Portugal, Spain, and the USA.

However, the day was turning into a nightmare for the French, as Lombardi found
herself isolated on the bike, struggling to bridge a gap of almost 40 seconds to
the pack ahead.

Unlike the men’s first leg, all the women managed to stay upright as
Taylor-Brown started the run with a 10-second buffer on the chasers, led by
Derron and Spivey. Lombardi had a rousing reception as she came into transition,
but by then the gap had grown to almost a minute and it was looking increasingly
difficult for France to  get back into the race.

Taylor-Brown lapped Austria’s Julia Hauser as she headed for the second
changeover, but couldn’t hold the rapid Tertsch at bay, who took the lead for
the Germans before tagging Lasse Luehers at the 42:47 mark. Dickinson, who had
been handpicked by the British selectors for his relay prowess, was tagged in
one second behind, with Switzerland four seconds down, followed by Spain and USA
13 seconds from the lead. Behind them, Mexico, Brazil, Portugal, Italy, and
Norway tagged in their athletes for the third leg.


PARIS OLYMPIC TRIATHLON RELAY RESULTS: LEG 3

Germany’s Lasse Luehers tags in Laura Lindemann during the triathlon mixed relay
at the Paris Olympic Games. (Photo: Marijan Murat/picture alliance via Getty
Images)

Dickinson (GBR) made quick work of taking the lead on the swim, with Luehers
(DEU) on his feet, followed by Friedelance – who was such a late replacement for
the race he hadn’t even had time to find a Swiss tri suit to fit.

The front three were followed into T1 by a second trio of Vasco Vilaca (POR),
Alessio Crociani (ITA), and Pearson (USA), who swallowed up Friedelance quickly.

Luehers and Dickinson were exchanging turns at the front and by the first lap of
the bike were 16 seconds clear of the chase pack, but needed to keep the
pressure on as Vilaca, in particular, was pushing hard.

Meanwhile, Kristian Blummenfelt had taken over from the Norwegians for a rare
mixed relay outing, but had 37 seconds to make up on the lead. Further back,
individual men’s bronze medalist Bergere was making progress on Team France’s
deficit, buoyed by the vociferous home-crowd noise.

Besides, Dickinson was on a tear. The Brit was imperious on the run, even
managing to open a gap on Luehrs in the second lap before handing over to Potter
at the 1:03:06 mark. Five seconds later, Luehrs tagged in Lindemann (DEU).
Twenty seconds down from the front, Vilaco handed off Team Portugal’s fate to
Maria Tome, closely followed by Crociani and Pearson, with the U.S. firmly in
contention for a medal. American anchor Taylor Knibb set off with determination
to bring home the hardware.


PARIS OLYMPIC TRIATHLON RELAY RESULTS: LEG 4

It was Potter versus Lindemann, the same final leg scenario as it was in the
2023 Paris test event, although last summer there hadn’t been a swim. Would that
prove decisive? As Potter made her return swim into the current, she had a few
seconds to think about either going alone on the bike or sharing duties with
Lindemann to stay clear, trusting in her run ability. Potter set out on the bike
with a lead of 11 seconds – how much of that time would she keep in the ensuing
miles?

Knibb, who had lamented her swim in the individual race, produced a storming
effort to come out clear in third, 23 seconds down on Potter by the time she
mounted the bike, but only 12 seconds adrift of Lindemann. The rest of the field
looked too far back: The medals would be decided by the this trio, but in what
order?

The Boulder-based star was once again time-trialing on the streets of Paris, but
unlike last Saturday in the cycling TT, she looked strong and confident. Knibb
was up to Lindemann’s wheel within the first lap and instantly attacked, the
German desperately hung on.

Taylor Knibb (USA, R) rides with Laura Lindemann (GER, L) during the fourth leg
of the 2024 Paris Olympic mixed relay triathlon event. (Photo: Tommy
Zaferes/World Triathlon)

Through lap one of the bike, Knibb had halved the gap to Potter at the front,
and by the time they came to the turn before transition, the two were together.
As a spectacle and showcase for the mixed relay triathlon format, it was
exciting, unpredictable, and unbeatable.

Knibb was first to dismount, but Potter quickest out of transition. Lindemann
had a few seconds to make up. Beaugrand arrived in fourth place a minute later
with the chase pack – a valiant fight-back, but not what France was racing for.



Through lap one of the run, Knibb had moved into the lead, with Potter and
Lindemann breathing down her neck. As they came down the blue carpet, it was
anyone’s race – and in the final kick, it was Lindemann who proved the victor,
grabbing the finish line tape to clinch gold for Germany.


A PHOTO FINISH FOR THE AGES AT PARIS OLYMPIC TRIATHLON MIXED RELAY

In a three-way sprint finish, Team Germany clinched the gold medal in triathlon
mixed relay at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. (Photo: Wagner Araujo/World
Triathlon)

The Paris Olympic triathlon mixed relay finish was such a tight call that the
officials originally gave silver to Great Britain. But members of Team USA felt
strongly Knibb had edged out Potter, Spivey told Triathlete after the race.

“When the girls crossed the line, I thought we got bronze,” Spivey said. “But
the boys were certain we got silver and told them to look at the photo finish
again.”

The teams were lining up for the podium when they were told the Americans had,
in fact, won silver. “I think we’re the happiest silver medal athletes in the
history of the Games,” Spivey said.

The triathlon mixed relay results at the Paris Olympic Games came down to a
photo finish, with Taylor Knibb just barely edging out Beth Potter at the line.
(Photo: World Triathlon/Triathlete)


TEAM USA REACTS TO TRIATHLON MIXED RELAY SILVER

After an individual program that hadn’t gone to plan, matching the relay silver
from Tokyo was the mark of Team USA, who more than any other in this race, had
punched above its potential.

“My job was to go first, deal with whatever happens in the swim and try to make
whatever front group was there and the my best run I could,” Rider said. ”Going
up against Alex and some crazy fast runners, I knew I was probably going to lose
a little, but I fought like hell and tagged off in a decent position.”

“I’m so happy with how this team raced, and I’m glad I felt so much better today
than I did on the individual race, when I just didn’t have the legs.” Spivey
said. “Today, I felt good and was glad I could execute a strong swim, bike, and
run for this team. It’s so special. I knew if we all executed a solid race we
could be in the fight for a medal but to actually do it, there are no words to
describe it.”

“You can’t not be happy with a medal,” Pearson said. “I still wish the
individual race had been better, but you can have mixed emotions about two
different races. It’s really cool to be part of the team. It’s been a hard
couple of days. All of us were trying to stay focused, and I don’t think the
cancellations helped in any way, but we did it and everyone is really happy.”

“I’m very grateful,” Knibb told Triathlete after the race. “It was a huge
confidence boost coming out of the water and seeing we have 12 seconds on
fourth. I didn’t think they were closing that gap, so it was more to play for. I
probably could have tactically handled the bike a little better, but I don’t
know if I could have dropped Laura. We had to catch Great Britain, we didn’t
just want to let them go. That ended up being the right choice because we beat
Great Britain.”

As for that sprint finish, Knibb said “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would
be. I had to go from the front and play my cards. Those were my cards. It’s not
gold, but it’s not far off. That I don’t have a change of gears isn’t a surprise
to anyone. I’m very diesel, but maybe if the finish line could be there [points
about 20 meters ahead] it would have been good!”

Team USA celebrates taking silver in the triathlon mixed relay at the Paris
Olympic Games. (Photo: Wagner Araujo/World Triathlon)


WHAT HAPPENED TO TEAM FRANCE AT THE TRIATHLON MIXED RELAY?

On the opposite end of the happiness spectrum were the French, who clawed their
way back from last place after Le Corre’s crash, only to finish just outside the
podium in fourth.

“His front wheel slid and I couldn’t escape the crash. I was right behind him,”
Le Corre told Triathlete after the race. “It was a double penalty [the crash,
plus a resulting dropped chain], and I lost so much time. From what I saw he
went a bit aggressive on the last corner, but I don’t know exactly what
happened. I thought, ‘This is a nightmare,’ but my teammates were really strong,
so I tried to stay focused and get back in the race.”

“It was hard. I did my best to not let the gap increase, but it was a tough day
today,” Lombardi said, who recorded her second fourth-place finish of the
Olympic week. “I’m a bit disappointed. It’s hard, but it was my first Olympic
Games, and the public were amazing, the course was amazing, and it will stay in
my mind forever.”


2024 PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES TRIATHLON MIXED RELAY RESULTS

1 Germany 1:25:39 2 USA 1:25:40 3 Great Britain 1:25:40 4 France 1:26:47 5
Portugal 1:27:08 6 Italy 1:27:11 7 Switzerland 1:27:16 8 Brazil 1:27:23 9 Spain
1:27:30 10 The Netherlands 1:27:37


Tim Heming
Tim Heming, is a multimedia journalist with more than a decade of expertise in
covering triathlon pros, age-groupers, and industry. Previously, he contributed
to UK publications The Times, The Sunday Times, and The Sun.


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