The road to Paris 2024 and the Olympic Games triathlon is different for every athlete, but few can have had such a tumultuous road to the French capital as Britain’s Georgia Taylor-Brown.
Wednesday brought the full range of emotions in the triathlon community as GTB and Kate Waugh were handed discretionary spots for the big dance, while Sophie Coldwell agonisingly missed out.
For Taylor-Brown she now has the opportunity to try and go one better than the brilliant silver medal she claimed behind Flora Duffy in Tokyo in 2021. A medal she claimed despite suffering a puncture on the bike leg.
Since that epic day in the Japanese capital much has happened in Georgia’s life. Both on and off the course. To say she has faced challenging times would be an understatement.
GTB on a tumultuous two years
On Thursday evening she reflected on a tumultuous two years, and her pain for the team-mates who missed out on selection, as she wrote a heartfelt, deep and inspiring post on her Instagram account.
“Paris 2024 ??????
“In the battle between light and darkness, light will always win”
“If you’ve followed my career you will know there’s been some ups and downs, that’s sport hey? And between Tokyo and Paris, it’s been no different! In the past 2 years my life has changed so much; injury & an operation, losing love & drive for my sport, going through personal heartbreak, disappointment on the race course, finding happiness and a new love, feeling excited about life & the future again, regaining my drive and passion for triathlon and finally now, becoming an Olympian for the second time.
‘Not a sob story, it’s reality’
“This isn’t my X Factor audition sob story, it’s just my reality and it’s been really bloody hard at points to wake up and get myself out the door when all I wanted is to stay locked in my room and ignore the outside world. So for all that I’ve been through, I’m proud of myself for doing this, for making it this far and for turning things around when I could have tapped out and been happy with what I’ve already achieved!
“So to refer back to my quote from the start, light will win, every time, because nothing worth having comes easy! My heart breaks for all those hurting through Olympic selection now and to come, but you know you did all you could and you were your very best self! And for anyone that needs this right now: light always win, and the sun will rise again tomorrow. Keep pushing forward ☀️”
