Paris 2024: “Two medals would be nice, especially two golds,” says Georgia Taylor-Brown

It’s been a very different Olympic build-up for Tokyo gold and silver medallist Georgia Taylor-Brown. Hampered by injury again, although this time a calf tear in the latter half of 2023, so thankfully not on the eve of competition, the Lancastrian won’t be starting as the reigning world champion nor be joined by good friend and relay team-mate Jess Learmonth in Paris.

Her partner Vincent Luis, who was only selected as a reserve for the French squad is also likely to be absent.

But having cemented qualification with a sixth place in Cagliari, aged 30, the most experienced member of the GB tri team after Jonny Brownlee’s omission, will still head to Paris among the medal favourites. So let’s hear from her…

220: Congratulations on another Olympic selection. How has training been going?

Georgia Taylor-Brown: Really well. Last year’s injury and having four months out of running was not ideal before the Games, but I’ve had worse lead-ups to an Olympics [Taylor-Brown was on crutches 12 weeks prior to Tokyo].

220: Are you confident the calf injury is behind you?

GT-B: I think so, but it took me a while to know I could get back-to-back races in. I started my season with an Olympic-distance race in Quarteira [placing third] and then the indoor race at Lievin track race [second]. 

Running on the track was a tester for me. I have phantom symptoms in my head with the amount of horror stories I hear about calf tears never healing. But we rehabbed it really well. It took longer than I wanted, but I knew it was the right thing to do. 

It gave me the chance to have an operation on my ankle at the same time. In 2019, we found I had extra bone at the back of my ankle that now and again caused an impingement and the ankle would almost lock up.

Pointing my toes when swimming was the worst. It was always on my mind and since I wasn’t running anyway, it made sense to have the op. 

220: What were your emotions after the race in Sardinia? [Taylor-Brown’s sixth place and leading Brit behind Beth Potter proved critical in securing her Olympic selection]  

GT-B: It was our selection race, I knew I had put out a strong and aggressive performance, and I did that. I was happy with my form on that day and I was in medal contention until the last 3km.

There were a few things I can change but I knew I needed to be there in a happy, healthy state. Now it’s done I can prepare to hopefully be better in Paris.

220: What are your final preparations for the Games?

GT-B: I’m spending four weeks at altitude in Font Romeu [in France] and then heading to the holding camp for around two weeks. I think that’s important.

Even though it’s time away from home which is always difficult, it’s good to be in a team environment, protected in a little bubble where all I have to do is train and rest. I find that hard because I need other stimulus, but I know it serves a purpose and it’s what I need to do.

220: Are you looking forward to a different experience from Japan?

GT-B: It’ll be strange. A lot louder and busier, but until I get there I won’t really know what it will be like to be in a proper Olympics with spectators! 

I was injured going into Tokyo which kind of took the pressure off as I didn’t know what to expect. This time I’ve not got too much pressure and I’ve not been winning every race, but I just want to be competitive and walk away knowing that I can be proud I’ve given it my all.

It’ll also be with a different group of people. Heading into Tokyo, the previous races had established that it was pretty much going to be a breakaway [on the bike] because of the speed that Jess puts down, particularly on the second lap where she keeps the pressure on.

That doesn’t really happen any more. Racing changes over the years, but it’s still a triathlon and I know how to race. 

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220: Will you be at a disadvantage having not raced last year’s test event?

GT-B: I’ve not raced on the course. It doesn’t worry me, but I am conscious of it. When you’ve raced the course you understand it. I know on the recce, I’ll have to be vigilant in assessing and understanding.

220: How challenging has it been with Vince not being selected?

GT-B: Really hard. I woke up from a nap to a text from him saying that he wasn’t in the team. I didn’t know our team selection at that point either, but I was so sad for him. I felt the happiness had been sucked out of me.

He’s made peace with it. He’s been to three Olympics, is a multiple world champion and has achieved a lot, and the support he gets from people who look up to him is incredible. 

He kept saying I need to remember to celebrate my selection, but I said he couldn’t force me to be happy, I need to process it as and when it happens. Even now it’s so up and down.

It would have been so good to be at an Olympics together – his home games – and he is the reserve so he might be there, but he might not. Anything can happen. Later on that evening he said: ‘It’s all about you now, you’re going to the Games.’ It was an emotional week.

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220: Finally, what are your goals for Paris?

GT-B: I assume that every athlete that goes to the Olympics believes they can be an Olympic champion. Two medals would be nice, especially two golds. 

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