Cassandre Beaugrand hold a gold medal

Cassandre Beaugrand poses on the podium during the Women's Triathlon medal ceremony. Credit: Abaca Press/Alamy Live News

Triple medal delight for Loughborough’s triathletes in Paris

Loughborough-linked triathletes lit up the streets of Paris to claim two golds and a bronze as Cassandre Beaugrand, Alex Yee, and Beth Potter all made the podium in their respective races.

In a thrilling Women’s race that came down to the final stretch, Loughborough College student Cassandre Beaugrand claimed an incredible gold for host nation France with Loughborough University alumna Beth Potter winning a gutsy bronze for Great Britain.

In the Men’s event a short time later, University-based Alex Yee produced a sensational sprint finish for GB to overhaul New-Zealand rival Hayden Wilde to take a dramatic gold.

Beaugrand – who has also worked extensively with Loughborough Sport Support Services – crossed the line in one hour 54 minutes 55 seconds in front of a delirious home crowd on the Pont Alexandre III bridge.

Potter, the 2023 world champion, dug deep to hold on for a wonderful bronze in 1:55.10. Switzerland’s Julie Derron took silver (1:55.01).

beth potter with her bronze medal

 Loughborough alumna Beth Potter poses on the podium during the Women's Triathlon medal ceremony. Credit: Abaca Press/Alamy Live News

Yee, who adds to his silver individual medal from Tokyo, crossed the line in one hour 44 minutes 33 seconds – ahead of both Wilde (1:43:39) and Bergere (1:43:43, France).

Speaking after the Women’s competition, Beaugrand said: “I just can’t believe it. I want someone to pinch me right now. I moved to Loughborough so I am used to riding in the rain now. It took me out of my comfort zone. The English people helped me a lot, so thanks to them.”

After the Men’s race, a jubilant Alex Yee said: “I’m so grateful to everyone who’s been in my corner for the past three years. That was for them.

"At 5km [on the run leg] I was going through a really bad patch and with 2.5km to go I thought I’m going to give myself one last chance at this and not give up, and here we are.

“I am still just that normal guy, I work hard at my sport and I just love what I’m doing.”

alex yee wins the men's triathlon event in paris

 Alex Yee celebrates his victory after the Men’s Triathlon. Credit: Craig Mercer/Alamy Live News

For all the latest Loughborough news around major global sporting events, visit the University’s dedicated website here: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/sport/athletes-global-stage/

Join the conversation on social media with the hashtag #Lboro2Paris

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 24/119

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines. 

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2024 QS World University Rankings – the eighth year running. 

Loughborough is ranked 6th in The UK Complete University Guide 2025, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2024 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024. 

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes. 

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking. 

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