Beth Potter

{{short description|Scottish long-distance runner and triathlete}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Beth Potter

| image =Beth Potter commonwealth 2014 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Potter in 2014

| headercolor = lightblue

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|12|27|df=y}}

| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/po/beth-potter-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418042458/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/po/beth-potter-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-04-18| title = Beth Potter|access-date=2018-02-05|via=www.sports-reference.com/olympics/}}

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| sport = Athletics, Triathlon

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| club = Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers

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| coach = Mick Woods

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| height = 1.70 m

| weight = 51 kg

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| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{GBR2}}}}

{{MedalBronze|2024 Paris|Triathlon at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Mixed relay}}

{{MedalCountry|{{SCO}}}}

}}

Beth Potter (born 27 December 1991) is a Scottish triathlete and long distance runner. She competed for Great Britain in athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. In 2019 she won the gold medal at the European Triathlon Championships in Weert, Netherlands.[https://www.triathlon.org/results/result/2019_weert_etu_triathlon_european_championships/336878 Elite Women's results Weert 2019 ETU Championships] In 2022, she won individual bronze at the 2022 World Triathlon Sprint Championships, and silver with Team Great Britain in the World Triathlon Mixed Relay Championships. In 2023, she won the Elite championship in the World Triathlon Championship Series, becoming the sixth British women's world champion.

Potter also competes in Super League Triathlon. She won the Super League Triathlon Arena Games, London 2021, and was second at the Rotterdam event.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-18|title=Sophie Coldwell Beats Beth Potter To SLT Arena Games Title In Rotterdam|url=https://superleaguetriathlon.com/races/arena-games/sophie-coldwell-beats-beth-potter-to-slt-arena-games-title-in-rotterdam/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Super League Triathlon|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=2021-03-27|title=Beth Potter Beats Lucy Charles-Barclay To SLT Arena Games Title|url=https://superleaguetriathlon.com/races/arena-games/beth-potter-beats-lucy-charles-barclay-to-slt-arena-games-title/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Super League Triathlon|language=en-GB}} In 2022 Potter became the first Esports Triathlon World Champion, by winning the 2022 Arena Games Triathlon series.{{Cite web |last=Leitch |first=Adam |date=2022-05-07 |title=Beth Potter Wins Arena Games Triathlon Title as Zsanett Bragmayer Takes The Win In Singapore |url=https://superleaguetriathlon.com/beth-potter-wins-arena-games-triathlon-title-as-zsanett-bragmayer-takes-the-win-in-singapore/ |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=Super League Triathlon |language=en-GB}} Potter won a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in the individual triathlon.

Early life

Potter was born in Scotland and grew up in Bearsden, where she ran for Victoria Park Glasgow.{{Cite news|url=http://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Beth-Potter-article-in-The-Times.pdf|title=Potter trusts in magical mix of power and perseverance|last=Forsyth|first=Paul|access-date=2016-09-18|via=scottishathletics.org}} Her father, Alex, is also a competitive runner and her sister, Sarah, is a running coach.{{Cite web|url=http://www.scottishdisabilitysport.com/rio-olympian-visits-victoria-park-ac-in-glasgow/|title=Rio Olympian visits Victoria Park AC in Glasgow|date=2016-09-05|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-09-18}} At a young age Potter was a competitive swimmer.{{Cite web|url=http://www.trackfield97.com/beth-potter-secures-10000m-commonwealth-standard-days-after-claiming-bucs-5k-title/|title=Beth Potter – secures 10,000m Commonwealth Standard for Scotland days after claiming BUCS 5K title ‹ TrackField97.com|website=www.trackfield97.com|access-date=2016-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923195232/http://www.trackfield97.com/beth-potter-secures-10000m-commonwealth-standard-days-after-claiming-bucs-5k-title/|archive-date=2016-09-23|url-status=dead}} She attended Loughborough University.{{Cite web|url=http://bandmcommunitymag.tumblr.com/post/125762176982/famously-connected-beth-potter|title=Famously Connected: Beth Potter|website=The Community Magazine|access-date=2016-09-18}} Potter moved to London for postgraduate training at St Mary's University, Twickenham and trained as part of the Endurance Performance Centre there through Rio 2016.{{cite web | url=https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/endurance-performance-coaching/athletes.aspx | title=Endurance Performance Centre athletes }}

Career

= Running career =

Potter began competing as a runner in 2004. In 2008, she placed first at the Scottish Under-15 Championships in cross country and in the 1500m distance in track. She finished 36th in Under 20 cross-country at the World Championships in 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://www.scotstats.net/athletes/beth-potter/|title=Beth Potter - scotstats|website=www.scotstats.net|access-date=2016-09-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324101802/http://www.scotstats.net/athletes/beth-potter/|archive-date=2016-03-24|url-status=dead}}

Coming back from an injury, Potter placed 18th in 5,000m at the under 23 European Championships in 2013 (16th after disqualifications).{{Cite web|url=http://www.thenational.scot/news/athletics-joy-of-reaching-rio-still-sinking-in-for-10000-metres-runner-beth-potter.18665|title=Athletics: Joy of reaching Rio still sinking in for 10,000 metres runner Beth Potter|last=Egelstaff|first=Susan|date=2016-06-11|publisher=The National|access-date=2016-09-18}} Potter began training with coach Mick Woods who convinced her not to quit running. Potter was more successful in 2014 competing at the senior level, representing Scotland at Glasgow where she finished 9th in the 5,000m and 5th at the 10,000m distance.{{Cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/athletics/beth-potter-s-strongwoman-tactics-1-3504715|title=Beth Potter's strongwoman tactics|last=Woods|first=Mark|website=www.scotsman.com|access-date=2016-09-18}} The next year she had a disappointing 2015 season due to illness.

Potter qualified to represent Great Britain at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She secured her place qualifying as the second British woman in the women's 10,000m behind Jess Andrews.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/36353056|title=Beth Potter delighted with second and Rio 10,000m berth|date=2016-05-22|newspaper=BBC Sport|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-09-18}} Leading up to the Olympics, Potter trained with fellow Scot Steph Twell. Potter also worked with a sports psychologist weekly in an effort to overcome her difficulty managing stress. She competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, in the women's 10,000 metres, finishing 34th.{{cite web|url=https://www.rio2016.com/en/athlete/beth-potter |title=Beth Potter |website=rio2016.com |access-date=12 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011065920/https://www.rio2016.com/en/athlete/beth-potter |archive-date=11 October 2016 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rio2016.com/en/athletics-standings-at-womens-10-000m |title=Rio 2016 |website=Rio 2016 |access-date=2016-09-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813081148/https://www.rio2016.com/en/athletics-standings-at-womens-10-000m |archive-date=2016-08-13 }}

In May 2017 Potter won the 10,000 metres at the British trials, her first race on the track since the Olympics, qualifying her for the 2017 World Athletics Championships in London.{{cite web |url=http://www.athleticsweekly.com/event-reports/beth-potter-and-andy-vernon-triumph-at-highgate-night-of-the-10000m-pbs-61180 |title=Beth Potter and Andy Vernon triumph at Highgate Night of the 10,000m PBs |last=Henderson |first=Jason |date=20 May 2017 |website=Athletics Weekly |access-date=15 July 2017}}

= Triathlon career =

In January 2017 Potter announced that she was planning to make a transition from athletics to triathlon with a view to competing in triathlon at the 2020 Summer Olympics, having moved to Leeds to join an elite training group including Alistair Brownlee, Jonathan Brownlee, Vicky Holland and Non Stanford, although she did also indicate that she would aim to compete in the 2017 World Athletics Championships.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/39994659 |title=Beth Potter: Training with Brownlees helped me qualify for World Championships |author= |date=21 May 2017 |website=bbc.co.uk |access-date=15 July 2017}} In June 2017 she finished third in the elite race at the Blenheim Palace Triathlon{{cite web |url=http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2017-06-04/perfect-conditions-as-7000-compete-in-blenheim-triathlon/ |title=Perfect conditions as 7000 compete in Blenheim Triathlon |author= |date=4 June 2017 |website=itv.com |access-date=15 July 2017}} and won the elite competition at the Cardiff Triathlon.{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/record-number-competitors-took-part-13237390 |title=A record number of competitors took part in this year's Cardiff Triathlon |last=Dewey |first=Philip |date=25 June 2017 |website=WalesOnline|access-date=15 July 2017}}

Potter finished 4th in the 2021 Super League Triathlon Championship Series,{{Cite web|title=Beth Potter » Super League Triathlon|url=https://superleaguetriathlon.com/athlete/beth-potter/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Super League Triathlon|language=en-GB}} as well as winning the Super League Triathlon Arena Games, London, and finishing second at the Rotterdam event. in 2022, Potter won Arena Games Triathlon Powered by Zwift, Munich, the first event of the new Arena Games Triathlon Powered by Zwift Esports World Championship series.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-09 |title=Potter Dominates In Munich As Home Favourites Secure Podium Spots |url=https://superleaguetriathlon.com/announcements/potter-dominates-in-munich-as-home-favourites-secure-podium-spots/ |access-date=2022-04-10 |website=Super League Triathlon |language=en-GB}} Two weeks later, at Arena Games Triathlon London, she finished in 2nd place behind France's Cassandre Beaugrand{{Cite web |date=2022-04-23 |title=Cassandre Beaugrand Powers To Win At Arena Games Triathlon London powered by Zwift |url=https://superleaguetriathlon.com/races/arena-games/cassandre-beaugrand-powers-to-win-at-arena-games-triathlon-london-powered-by-zwift/ |access-date=2022-04-25 |website=Super League Triathlon |language=en-GB}} At the final event of the series, held at Marina Bay Singapore, Potter finished in second place, behind Hungary's Zsanett Bragmeyer. Her second place finish, was however enough to take the overall title in the 2022 Arena Games Triathlon Series, making Potter the inaugural Esports Triathlon World Champion.

She finished in third place at SLT NEOM, the final event of the 2022 Super League Triathlon season, her podium finish at the event secured her 4th place in the series overall.{{Cite web |last=Powell |first=Megan |date=2022-10-29 |title=GEORGIA TAYLOR-BROWN CROWNED 2022 SUPER LEAGUE CHAMP |url=https://superleaguetriathlon.com/georgia-taylor-brown-crowned-2022-super-league-champ/ |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=Super League Triathlon |language=en-GB}}

In August 2023, Potter won the Olympic Games Test Event for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, finishing ahead of Cassandre Beaugrand and Laura Lindemann.{{cite web | url=https://www.triathlon.org/results/result/2023_world_triathlon_test_event_paris/582628 | title=Results: Elite Women | 2023 World Triathlon Olympic Games Test Event Paris }} On 24 September, she was crowned World Champion after winning the World Triathlon Championship Series final in Pontevedra, Spain.{{cite news |title=World Triathlon Championship Series: Great Britain's Beth Potter crowned champion |work=BBC Sport |date=24 September 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/triathlon/66907192 |access-date=24 September 2023}}

In November 2023 it was announced that Potter had been selected for the British 2024 Summer Olympic team.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Potter came third and took the Bronze Medal.{{cite news |title=Potter & Yee first GB triathletes chosen for Paris 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=23 November 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/triathlon/67504905 |access-date=23 November 2023}}

= Teaching career =

In addition to training as a runner, as of June 2016 Potter was teaching physics in west London. However by the end of that year she had left her teaching post in order to concentrate on training full-time.{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/15027290.Olympian_Potter_to_shift_from_track_to_triathlon_for_Tokyo/ |title=Olympian Potter to shift from track to triathlon for Tokyo |last=Woods |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Woods (sportswriter)|date=16 January 2017 |website=HeraldScotland|access-date=15 July 2017}}

References

External links

{{Sports links|maxlink=8|properties=-P2778}}
{{2022 Commonwealth Games profile|63899}}
[https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/beth-potter_1904244 Beth Potter] at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics

{{British Athletics Championships women's 10000 metres champions}}

Category:Living people

Category:1991 births

Category:Alumni of Loughborough University

Category:Alumni of St Mary's University, Twickenham

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2018 Commonwealth Games

Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Scotland

Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in triathlon

Category:Medallists at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain

Category:Scottish Olympic competitors