Paris 2024: Our predictions for who will medal
The 220 team and contributors share who they think will medal in the 2024 Paris Olympic triathlon events – who do you agree with?
Who will medal in the Paris Olympic Games triathlon events? Now there’s a question. And, as always, answering it has not been easy.
But we – the 220 editorial team plus our two trusty columnists, Tim Heming and Martyn Brunt – gave it a shot, and have each picked three men, three women and three teams who we think will bringing home medals this summer.
But, do you agree?
Tim Heming
For our columnist and online news writer Tim, Team GB will be heading home with three golds and a silver and bronze. Ambitious? Here’s his thinking…
Men
1. Alex Yee, GBR
2. Hayden Wilde, NZL
3. Vasco Vilaça, POR
Yee had one WTCS win heading into the Tokyo Olympics and that was just weeks before the Games. Now he has eight victories but much more importantly the self-belief that he is the fastest short course triathlete in the world.
Wilde is never far behind, but over this distance he is behind just enough, and both men know that. I could pick about 10 contenders for bronze, but Portugal’s Vilaça – second in last year’s test event – has a shot. He was bruised and battered after a crash in Yokohama in May, but sometimes that enforced recovery ensures the athlete doesn’t come into the Olympics overcooked.
Women
1. Beth Potter, GBR
2. Georgia Taylor-Brown, GBR
3. Kate Waugh, GBR
Paris can be the deserved culmination of seven years’ hard graft for Potter, who has mastered keeping training consistently simple – perhaps one of the hardest demands of endurance sport.
Another silver for Taylor-Brown, on the way back from a calf tear and against such high quality opposition as the French and German trios, while Flora Duffy and Taylor Knibb would also be a result to celebrate.
Waugh can move on from the selection debacle to secure a British podium sweep and the first in Olympic triathlon history.
Mixed team relay
1. Great Britain
2. Germany
3. France
There’ll be shocks, scares and surprises in the relay, but by the time it’s done I expect GB to defend the title. Having kept Jonny Brownlee out of the team, the focus will be on Sam Dickinson either on the lead-off leg or leg three, but he’s more than competent to deliver the solid – not spectacular – leg required to keep the team in contention.
As they showed in winning the test event, this German team looks tailor-made for the super-sprint format and could field the same four names. The women being a level above the men only helps their cause.
Anything less than gold will be a disappointment for the home nation, but they’ll have to settle for bronze.
Helen Webster
Editor Helen is backing the Brits for individual gold but they’ll both be much tighter races than we saw in the test event. And in the mixed relay, she expects another repeat with a win for Germany.
Men
1. Alex Yee, GBR
2. Léo Bergere, FRA
3. Hayden Wilde, NZL
I think it’ll be tight in the men’s race – especially if we see a pack forming on the bike. I’m manifesting good vibes for Alex Yee by putting him in the top spot here, but he likely doesn’t need them as his win in the Test Event is a sure indicator of form. He’s had a good while to prepare, too.
In second I’m backing a French athlete with Bergere, especially if he gets some support from him team-mates.
Third is a close-call as we might end up with a battle between Yee and Wilde, especially given Wilde’s run of bad luck with penalties and injury. Will he come out swinging?
Women
1. Beth Potter, GBR
2. Cassandre Beaugrand, FRA
3. Taylor Knibb, USA
Given her string of recent achievements and her insane run speed, I’m going for Potter to take gold. Especially if (as I’m fearing) we end up with a duathlon thanks to poor water quality. If there is a swim, I would be tempted to back Beaugrand as open water is such a strength for her, plus never underestimate the power of a home crowd cheering you on!
Taylor Knibb is my wild card. Will her earlier appearances in the Games in the cycling time trial see her in the form of her life and on a performance high, or with some element of fatigue still lingering? I’m sure she’ll have trained with that in mind, so let’s wait and see…
Mixed team relay
1. Germany
2. Great Britain
3. France
Our relay team at their best is pretty invincible – let’s see if the GB athletes can bring their A-game back to the Games in July. Although I understand the decisions, I am sad we won’t see a Brownlee in the mix one more time!
For now though, I’m predicting Germany will continue their winning form this year, especially with a full team of strong athletes to choose from.
Liz Barrett
Deputy editor Liz – who will be heading to Paris for the individual races – had a tough time whittling her list down to just three names. Here’s why…
Men
1. Alex Yee, GBR
2. Hayden Wilde, NZL
3. Dorian Coninx, FRA
Despite it being a home Games for the incredibly strong French team, Bergere, Coninx and Le Corre still don’t have the run speed to match Yee and Wilde over 10k. Unless Yee and Wilde have a shocking swim and miss the main bike pack, of course, leaving the French trio to fight it out for medals… which is exactly what happened at last year’s Grand Final in Pontevedra, Spain.
But no, I can’t see a repeat of that disastrous race. Yee is just looking too strong to be anything but the main contender.
Women
1. Beth Potter, GBR
2. Cassandre Beaugrand, FRA
3. Taylor Knibb, USA
I’ve swapped those top two names around so much I’m dizzy, but I think Potter, like Yee, has the edge. She’s so impressive over 10k and Beaugrand has, to date, only won one standard-distance race. Yes she beat Potter into third in Cagliari, but as the reigning world champ told 220 she wasn’t 100% and she wasn’t fazed.
As for bronze, and as in the men’s race, there are several names – Duffy, Taylor-Brown, Emma Lombardi, Laura Lindemann – that could mount that final podium spot. But I’m a huge fan of Knibb, a GOAT in the making for sure.
Mixed team relay
1. France
2. Germany
3. Great Britain
The only race where I don’t see Great Britain triumphing. Why? Because France and Germany have their pick of several potential individual medallists – all six French athletes are WTCS podium placers, for goodness sakes!
I personally think British Triathlon was wrong not to pick Jonny, but equally Team GB should have been in a position whereby both the most decorated Olympic triathlete and Dickinson were picked to race alongside Yee.
Of course, as a proud Brit, I hope to be proven wrong and we sweep all three golds!
Rob Slade
220 content editor Rob believes home advantage and past experience will see a Frenchman take gold, but it’s GB all the way for the women and mixed team relay.
Men
1. Léo Bergere, FRA
2. Alex Yee, GBR
3. Hayden Wilde, NZL
The natural pick here would be one of Alex Yee or Hayden Wilde, given their recent form and ongoing battles. I see both securing medals but have a suspicion we may see someone else take the top step, as has happened in the last two years’ World Triathlon Championship Series Grand Finals.
So, I’m going for Léo Bergere to bring it home for France. He’s proven he’s capable in the past and may just deliver something magical in front of a home crowd this time out.
Women
1. Beth Potter, GBR
2. Cassandre Beaugrand, FRA
3. Emma Lombardi, FRA
This race is going to be brilliant, and I could have easily gone for a handful of athletes for the medals. In the end, reigning world champ Beth Potter gets my nod on the basis of her performances over the past year, plus her run prowess, which could be key if water quality issues force us into a duathlon.
Beaugrand will 100% be in the mix, though, as will be rising stars Emma Lombardi, Jeanne Lehair and Taylor Knibb. Don’t discount experienced athletes like Georgia Taylor-Brown and Flora Duffy, either.
Mixed team relay
1. Great Britain
2. France
3. USA
There are some incredibly strong contenders for the relay, but I’m going to go with a successful defence of the Olympic title by Team GB. We’ve got the raw speed of Potter and Yee, an experienced relay operator in Sam Dickinson, and then either double-Olympic medallist Taylor-Brown or up-and-comer Kate Waugh. We shouldn’t fear anyone.
Marytn Brunt
Controversially, our Weekend Warrior Martyn Brunt can’t see a place for Wilde on the rostrum, while Potter will have to settle for bronze…
Men
1. Alex Yee, GBR
2. Léo Bergere, FRA
3. Dorian Coninx, FRA
I think France will be hard to beat in a home games, although I rate Alex Yee so highly that I think he’ll manage it in the men’s race. Feels a bit weird leaving Hayden Wilde out but four doesn’t go into three places and I can’t see past Alex and the French duo.
Women
1. Cassandre Beaugrand, FRA
2. Emma Lombardi, FRA
3. Beth Potter, GBR
Beth Potter has what it takes to win but again I think the home games advantage is a big thing for the French.
Mixed team relay
1. France
2. Germany
3. Great Britain
The USA seem to fancy their chances but it’s a European 1, 2, 3 for me.
220 Triathlon Team
Journalists, reviewers, coaches and athletes 
