Flora Duffy became the first triathlete to win multiple gold medals after defending her crown at the 2022 Commonwealth Games on Friday.
The Bermuda representative—who also holds the gold medal in the Olympics triathlon—swam, cycled and ran her way into the history books in a time of 55 minutes and 25 seconds. Englishwoman Georgia Taylor-Brown slipped off the pace to settle for silver behind Duffy—just as she did at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics—while Scotland's Beth recovered to take bronze.
Glaswegian Potter made the slickest start in the water and knifed her way into an early lead despite another poor start to the race. The men's triathlon earlier on Friday was marred by calls that there wasn't enough of a gap between 'on your marks' and the gun, with some athletes left standing on the line again, unaware the race was underway.
Potter clambered out of the water after nine minutes and 20 seconds before prising open the gap at the start of her cycle. Crowds cheered in their thousands as the Scot stormed ahead, though the Scot soon allowed herself to be caught by a chasing group led by Duffy, well aware the bike ride wouldn't be her strong suit.
The English duo of Taylor-Brown and Sophie Coldwell swiftly took over to lead the 20-kilometre climb around Sutton Park. Canadian Emily Legault also kept pace on the first of four 5,000-metre laps, with the leading five establishing a 20-second buffer over their nearest rivals early on.
It was around the 20-minute mark that the wheat began to separate from the (elite-level) chaff as Olympic champion Duffy and Taylor-Brown—who was one of those caught cold at the start—took flight. That pair powered ahead of their peers for the middle portion of the triathlon, dismounting their bikes with a massive one-minute lead as they embarked on the deciding five-kilometre run.
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Duffy got the better of the transition onto feet and ran into a five-second lead over Taylor-Brown, with Potter, Coldwell and Legault in hot pursuit of the bronze. Scottish contender Potter represented Great Britain in the women's 10,000 metres at Rio 2016 and demonstrated her class on the feet once more.
It wasn't enough to rein in Duffy, however, as the victor crossed the line in less than 56 minutes. It's little wonder Bermuda has a national holiday named after the Olympic champion, who may yet fancy another title defence at Paris in two years' time.
Speaking after securing her bronze, Potter was elated to place third on the podium. Few would have expected such a flashy start in the swim leg in particular, while her improvements in the cycle played another big part in her medal success.
"I am buzzing, just happy to get Scotland a medal," said the 30-year-old. "I have been working on my bike this year and it is paying off. I put a lot of work in this winter and glad to be reaping the rewards. It was a real target to get a medal this year and just glad I could do that. I got to the front in the swim and thought 'I am just going to go'."
Brown, 28, can be pleased with another runner-up finish behind such esteemed triathlon competition, though there may be some questions as to what went wrong in her run. The feat was particularly impressive considering this was her Commonwealth debut.
The Manchester native did comment that she's grown tired of finishing second to Duffy, though there are few who'd stand a chance of doing better. That being said, it's Flora Duffy Day for a reason, and Bermuda collects its first medal of these Commonwealth Games in style.
