Beth Potter is seeking her second world triathlon title in Australia

Beth Potter says she has felt less pressure this year as she bids for her second world triathlon title on Sunday.

The British Olympic bronze medalist will partner with defending champion Cassandre Beaugrande of France ahead of the final event in Australia.

Potter admitted that the preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics and the event itself had had an impact.

The 33-year-old Scottish athlete said: “I was one of the favorites to win the Olympic gold medal and there was a lot of pressure and expectations that day.”

“It was really hard and I felt like I was never able to get into my groove last year.

“I struggled when I got off the bike to feel like I was running and it was really frustrating because there was no reason for it, because that wasn’t the case in training.

“It shows how much pressure I put on myself that year to get a medal. I don’t think I’ve ever worked as hard as I did in that Olympic race to get that medal, and getting the bronze meant a lot to me.”

She won the world triathlon championship from Beaugrande in 2023, before the roles were reversed last year.

Potter tried a new training regime this year and spent nearly a month at altitude in the Swiss Alps resort of St Moritz.

“I didn’t find any part of my running easy last year and that was the one thing I always relied on to get myself out of trouble in races. It took longer than I thought to recover from the Olympic race,” she said.

“Even just to enjoy triathlon again, it took a good few months off-season and back into the season to really think that I wanted to be on the start line and racing and enjoying it. That was very difficult for me because it’s my job and my livelihood.

“It took me some time at the beginning of the year to adapt to some new training, and part of it was to mentally overcome the damage that last year had taken on my mind and body. I’m really enjoying the new training methods and trying something a little different. It’s the least risky year to try something.”

Potter is tied with Olympic champion Beaugrande on 2,925 points, but insists Sunday’s final in Woolangong is “not a two-horse race”.

There is a gap of more than 200 points to the chasing pack led by Jane Leher, ahead of Lisa Terch and Leonie Perreault, with 1250 points on offer to the winner in Australia.

The Scot will be cheered on by several family members – including two aunts who live nearby – as she takes part in a 1.5km swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run.