The Team GB mixed triathlon team have been downgraded from a silver medal to a bronze in Paris. In what proved a thrilling finale, Laura Lindemann crossed the line first to secure gold for Germany, as Beth Potter and Taylor Knibb, of the USA, were involved in a photo finish behind her.
Initially, it was Potter who was deemed to have finished second, adding a team silver to the bronze medal she picked up in the individual event.
But just minutes later, officials dramatically altered the result, demoting the British quartet to third place.
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Mike Cavendish, director of British Triathlon, explained that he was approached by organisers after they reassessed the shot of Potter going over the line with Knibb. “So we thought it was silver and the display here showed that it was silver,” he said on the BBC.
“When they come across the line, the judges will look at a video still and it’s not the most accurate picture. But now they’ve properly looked at the photo finish and it shows the Americans got it by an absolute whisker.”
Cavendish admitted the team were disappointed with the development, but argued the outcome didn’t detract from the overall performance of Potter, Sam Dickinson, and Georgia Taylor-Brown.
“It’s rare in triathlon to go to a photo finish which is why it had to take that little bit longer,” he added.
“And they have to put something up on the screen. So yes, they might be disappointed witht he sivler but ultimately, a bronze medal is still an amazing achievement. To be completely frank it was just a brilliant advert for the sport.”
He also confirmed the team would not be contesting the decision, adding: “I’ve seen in the photo and it’s quite clear. There won’t be any appeal.”
Potter had started the final leg with a slight lead, but appeared to be fading during the running stage. However, she then surged down the final straight, and immediately afterwards appeared content after thinking she had been awarded second place.
“I found something on the bridge and bridged the gap to the girls,” she said. “I sat and kicked, and I had just enough to get the silver.”
Despite being downgraded, the team were all smiles as they received their bronze medals on the podium. It signified a third top-three finish for Team GB in triathlon events, with Alex Yee taking gold in the men’s event after Potter had won her individual bronze.
