The hosts of this year’s Olympic Games might be the strongest in terms of all-round triathlon strength and depth. Certainly, when it comes to projecting the Olympic line-ups, there may be no country that can claim to surpass France’s combined male and female firepower.
On the strength front, France can call upon four overall medallists from the 2023 WTCS season; Britain and New Zealand claimed the others with one apiece. Meanwhile, when it comes to depth, only Germany is forecasted to join France in qualifying three men and three women, putting the two countries in rarefied territory in the current triathlon climate.
France can therefore be considered the preeminent force leading into the triathlon events this summer. However a final selection decision awaits, as does the pressure of the Games themselves.
Who has been selected already?
Dorian Coninx, the world champion, originally earned his spot with a medal at the Paris Test Event. In Pairs, he pipped Pierre Le Corre to 3rd place, but Le Corre returned to earn his slot with a medal of his own at WTCS Pontevedra. For what it’s worth, Coninx would have also qualified with his win at WTCS Pontevedra.
On the women’s side, Cassandre Beaugrand won medals in Paris and Pontevedra to secure her place on the team.
Half of the projected places on the Olympic team have therefore been assigned. Ahead of the Games, each of the trio that have met the selection criteria will have to prove their fitness, although this should be little more than a formality.
To do so, the selected athletes must finish in the top-6 of an Olympic distance WTCS race prior to 27th May 2024 (the end of the Second Period of Qualification). Alternatively, they must finish in the top-3 of a 2024 WTCS race over the Sprint distance before the same cut-off.
Who could take the remaining slots?
Women
Emma Lombardi is an obvious contender to take one of the remaining two female slots. She finished 3rd overall in the 2023 WTCS and won two silver medals in the Series. She also narrowly missed out on qualification in Paris as she finished 4th. Later on, she did not get the job done in Pontevedra with respect to making the team.
Nevertheless, Lombardi is a rising star. With only two WTCS seasons under her belt, she has already proven herself as a consistent medal threat and will be a clear podium contender at the Games.
Leonie Periault won a silver medal at WTCS Montreal last summer and has medalled in each of the past three WTCS campaigns. Like Lombardi, on her day she is a clear Olympic medal threat. It would thus follow that Periault will likely be picked alongside Lombardi.
Moreover, it is rare for anyone else to race in the WTCS for France beyond their core trio of Beaugrand, Lombardi and Periault. It seems unlikely, then, that they would switch strategies now.
In another country World Cup winner Sandra Dodet and European champion Mathilde Gautier would get more of a look in. Audrey Merle, an Olympian in 2016, likewise would have a greater chance of selection. Realistically, though, the remaining places will go to Lombardi and Periault.
The only hesitation surrounding the team is if France opt to deploy a domestique. While the third (and next open) priority in the selection policy focuses upon those that can target for individual medal, the fourth priority addresses athletes that can assist with winning a medal, either for another individual or the relay. Perhaps the French selectors will opt for someone with stronger swimming credentials to protect two of their medal contenders.
Selecting a domestique remains a possibility. On balance, though, it feels unlikely. The French team will probably not rip up the Beaugrand-Lombardi-Periault trinity that they have prioritised at the last second, especially when the dream French scenario is to have multiple (or even three) female medallists.
Men
The race for the final place on the French men’s team is unique. Essentially, it will be a clash of world champions as Leo Bergere (2022 world champion) battles Vincent Luis (2019 and 2020 world champion).
No other country is in a position to choose between WTCS medallists in the same manner, let alone winners of the WTCS. The enviable position of the selectors thus speaks to the country’s depth.
This is not to discount Tom Richard. However, he has an uphill battle ahead. Being neither a proven WTCS medallist nor a blatant Olympic medal contender, he stands behind Luis and Bergere for the final slot.
When it came to the selection races, Luis missed Pontevedra through injury and suffered a DNF at the Test Event. Meanwhile, Bergere was close to medals in both Paris and Pontevedra, yet his final sprint failed him as he finished 5th and 4th, respectively. With the swing a few seconds, he might have already made the team.
Both candidates will rely on a priority three selection as potential Olympic medallists.
Luis won WTCS Bermuda in 2022 and started 2023 well, finishing 4th at WTCS Abu Dhabi. On the other hand, in recent years he has been too injury prone. Alongside his close calls in Paris and Pontevedra, Bergere memorably won the WTCS Final in Abu Dhabi in 2022. When recalling that result it is no stretch to imagine him becoming the Olympic champion.
Due to Luis’ injuries, Bergere may inspire a tad more confidence of winning than his senior counterpart. Equally, Luis could turn out to be the world’s best domestique if his running form does not fully recover. Luis is one of the best swimmers in the triathlon world and would be a near-lock to make any front pack. Notably, he led the swim at the Test Event. As a result, he would effectively offer a guaranteed presence at front of swim and then the experience to lead a possible breakaway.
Whatever happens, selecting Bergere or Luis in addition to Le Corre and Coninx gives France three medal threats. Of course, if one of Coninx or Le Corre fail to prove their fitness before the end of May, both Luis and Bergere may yet make the team. As things stand, however, the final men’s French slot looks to be a decision as difficult as determining the British women’s team.
