Van Coevorden Survives Adverse Conditions

NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athlete Natalie Van Coevorden and Sophie Linn have successfully navigated a technical course and pushed through the adverse weather conditions to record strong performances in the Women’s Triathlon at Paris 2024.

Sophie was consistently placed across all three disciplines to finish 21st in 1:58.52. Natalie was 42nd in 2:03.01, after a frustrating swim and ride, where she did well to avoid a bike crash. 

French athlete Cassandre Beaugrand surprised herself, delivering a brilliant performance to run away from the lead group and win in 1:54.55. Julie Derron (SUI) won silver and Beth Potter (GBR) hung on for bronze.

Natalie had a more frustrating race. The current and tricky bike course caused her problems.

“We were more worried about the current than the actual dirtiness of the water by the end,” Natalie said.

“The current was way stronger than the test event last year, and caught us off guard in the first lap and I got a bit panicky. The current bunched up the weaker swimmers and I just couldn’t get around them. The swim was so rough, it wasn’t until the second lap that we actually got a bit of space to move.

“I got on the front of the second chase group, they came down in front of me and I had to click out. I didn’t go down but once you clip out you slow right down to a halt, it was unfortunate, but we didn’t come down in a crash. 

“That’s my thing, I’m still healthy and ready to start in the mixed relay.”

Sophie was pleased with her Olympic debut in front of family, friends and a huge crowd.

“I’m super happy with that. I can’t ask for much more than 21st,” Sophie said.

“I enjoyed myself, I soaked up the experience. I didn’t crash and every time something bad happened in the swim or a crash on the bike I remained calm and kept pushing on. That’s all I could ask of myself today.”

The strong current in the River Seine and the wet cobblestone roads were more challenging for the athletes than the murky water. By the run, the rain was gone but the conditions were hot and muggy. 

Sophie was trying to comprehend her first Olympic experience in front of a huge crowd in Paris.

“I don’t really have any words for the last two hours that we just experienced,” Sophie said. 

“That was every single possible adverse weather condition. Hard current,  rain, heat, humidity. It was just incredibly overwhelming and incredibly special.

“I tried to ensure that I was always near the front to avoid any crashes. The cobblestones take a lot out of your legs when you’re riding on them so you know I had to build into the run a little bit but I felt like I just ran really strong and enjoyed the experience.

“One of my biggest goals was to really soak up the experience. I just felt an immediate lift anytime I saw my friends and family out on the course cheering, so it was truly phenomenal, and overwhelming and overstimulating for the past two hours. It was a really weird video game I just played.”

Article courtesy of the AOC