Inside the Paris Olympics Triathlon

Morgan Pearson (USA)

Silver medal in the mixed triathlon relay.

Can you share a bit about your journey into triathlon? What drew you to the sport initially?

I grew up as a swimmer for BAC in New Jersey, and start competing in cross country and track running. I ended up going to CU boulder and ran cross country and track there. After I graduated college I set the goal to make the Olympics and the triathlon seemed like the most direct route for me to make the Olympic team.

How did your background in running at the University of Colorado shape your approach to triathlon?

At CU we really did a lot of speed work and the long run was an important part of training. In triathlon training I really work on my top end speed for all 3 sports and I also believe the long run, and long ride are two of the most important parts of training.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when transitioning from running to becoming a professional triathlete?

I was learning a completely new sport. Running races and swimming races are simple compared to Olympic distance triathlons. As long as your shoes are tied properly or you goggles are on correctly you’re good to go. Olympic distance triathlon is really dependent on the athletes you are racing against, there is a lot more rules of competitions, and the gear is a major factor. Adjusting to all this was difficult.

Congratulations on the silver medal in the Mixed Relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics! Can you take us through how that race feels to compete as a team?

It was a special day for team USA. We weren’t favorites to win a medal so to leave with a silver was huge for all of run.

The Mixed Relay is a relatively new Olympic event. How do you think it has impacted the sport of triathlon?

I think for now it’s too soon to say however I hope that it helps grow the sport in United States. Especially the draft legal side of triathlon which outside of the Olympics can feel like an afterthought. MTR was one of the most exciting races in all of the Olympics.

How did your individual race go and what were some key takeaways from this year’s event?

Poorly. I wish I prepared for the currents of the river we swam in. I had no plan on how to approach the currents. I’m usually a pretty good swimmer but I made a few mistakes in the swim that cost me a chance to be in the main pack.

What were some key fueling strategies you employed at Paris? Products you lean on?

Lately, I've been keeping my fueling very simple. I drink a Maurten 320 the night before the race. Mortal Hydration first thing when I wake up. I take a Maurten 160 Gel 30 minutes before the start of the race. Then two SIS Go Gels with electrolytes on the bike.

What does a typical training week look like for you leading up to a major event like the Olympics?

Training is swimming every day – 2-3 super quality swims. Cycling 4-6 days a week – usually two hard sessions, 1 is more race-specific and the other is more of a tempo or threshold session. Running is 6 days a week, 2 sessions, 1 strength and 1 speed session. Also a long run. I lift 2 days a week.

How do you approach recovery, both physically and mentally, in the lead up to a single big event?

I’ve been working hard on improving my recovery routine. If I do a big session I will have 2 scoops of Momentous Recovery + 1 scoop of Momentous whey protein. So really trying to increase my protein intake.

I also use my Theragun every morning - 1 minute in every major muscle and then a 10 minutes mobility routine.

I've also been trying to optimize my sleep which along with nutrition is the most important recovery tool.

Another thing I do for recovery is really making sure I warm up and cool down properly, wearing lots of clothing before and after training to increase blood flow and muscle performance.

When I travel I use the FireFly Device.

Beth Potter (GBR)

Bronze medal in both Mixed and IT.

You’ve medaled in both the Mixed Relay and Women’s Individual Triathlon at Paris 2024—how did the two experiences differ mentally and physically?

Of course, the most prestigious event is the individual. That is the one everyone wants to perform in, and it’s the one with the most pressure. Mentally, it is harder going into that one. I knew the swim would make or break the race, and it did. It was a very binary outcome—swim in the top 20 and you have a chance; don’t, and the race is over. And that’s how it played out. I knew that physically, what happened at the first buoy was likely going to determine if I was on or near the podium—I had prepared extensively for that. We did not think about the relay much before the individual.

BTF refused to pick any relay members before the individual, simply saying that they would pick after the individual, taking into account the outcomes there. So once the individual was over, there was a bit of time in limbo, waiting a day or so for them to pick the team. I assumed that I would be picked, but nothing was confirmed until a day or so after. So mentally, going into the relay is a different proposition. There are so many scenarios, you just have to be ready for all of them. Physically, of course, it is different from the individual, but I do not think many of the major players for the individual are (at this point in triathlon) training for the relay; it just comes off the back of your strength for the Olympic distance.

As a more experienced athlete in the Tri-world now, how do you leverage that to your benefit in these events?

I am still not that experienced. I have only been riding my bike for 7.5 years, while many of my competitors have literally been doing this for decades. But I do feel a lot more comfortable in races; I have seen many more scenarios now. When something happens in a race, it is not usually the first time I have seen it, so I have experience to call on. For example, that first buoy in the swim—three years ago, I may well have gone from top 5 to 25 around it, but this time I was able to hold my position.

How has competing in Supertri changed things up for you? Has it provided an opportunity to develop certain areas more?

Supertri is good. If you think about it, in an hour’s racing, you are getting experience of about three different triathlons. In the World Series, you have to travel all over the world for about three months to get the same number of "race experiences/situations" that Supertri usually gives you in one race. Rather like the relay, I do not think anyone is specifically training for the distance too much—it is just done off the strength of other training—but certainly, it sharpens you up a lot. You have to be on it. One mistake, and you are struggling to get back into the race.

Certainly, Supertri has done a lot to accelerate my learning and experience in triathlon. I look back to the 2021-2022 seasons; I probably got 4-5 seasons of WTCS experience across those two race series, which is what I needed then.

What was your fueling plan for this race, what are some products that you lean on, and how did you accomplish those goals during the event?

For fueling, I treat Supertri in a similar way to a sprint distance triathlon—they are very similar in length. In the build-up, I am taking a lot of the Maurten Drink Mix 160 and Gel 100 in training, just to make sure I am topped up, but I also take a lot of the bars and snacks The Feed has on offer. I particularly like the GU Energy Stroopwafel (caramel) and the Clif Bars. Basically, anything to keep my calories topped up and my systems full.

On race day, I have Maurten Bicarb and then 160 Mix in my drink before and during the race, and sometimes some Gel 100 on the bike during the race.

What are some main ways in which your fueling has evolved over the years?

It has definitely gotten more precise. A few years ago, I would just be stuffing my back pockets with a load of random things on a ride (bananas, cereal bars, etc.), but now I know exactly how many calories and carbs I need for different sessions. Having access to such a good range of products that I can use is great. I can just look in the cupboard and pick out exactly the number of carbs and calories I need.

Do you have any specific “routines” that keep you grounded and focused for big events like this? Something younger athletes may be able to learn from…

I write a timeline of the event—from the moment I get to the race to the moment it finishes. I write out the key events. For example, at the Olympics, a big one was that first buoy, so I am able to play different scenarios around that in my head before the race. So when I am in the race, it feels like I have already done it. I speak to my psychologist before the race too, just to talk things through, work through any thoughts I may have, etc. I am pretty nervous before big races, but you learn that that is normal and embrace it. But once the gun goes, I am in a different world; the nerves are gone, and it is just about focusing on executing my next action in the best possible way.