Emma Lombardi will look to usurp her more esteemed colleagues in front of a home crowd and take home a medal at the Paris Olympic Games later this month, after a solid stint of training at altitude.
The 22-year-old, who currently leads the World Triathlon Championship Series, will be joined by Olympic bronze medalists Leonie Periault and Cassandre Beaugrand on Team France in the capital.
Making her Olympic debut in less than a fortnight, the Chambery native should not be discounted as a dark horse for an individual medal on Wednesday July 31, after a fine start to the season so far.
Ready for a special day
After finishing third, fourth and fifth at WTCS events in Yokohama, Cagliari and Hamburg so far this season, Lombardi now leads the series ahead of German Lisa Tertsch and her compatriot Beaugrand.
Speaking after the race in Hamburg last weekend, she said the race in Germany had been the perfect litmus test to track her progress after a block of training at altitude.
“I really wanted to do one more race before the Olympics to just see where I am after my last training block in the mountains and find what adjustments need to be made before Paris.”
With less than two weeks to go, Lombardi said she is beyond excited to be making her Olympic debut in front of a home crowd.
“I feel really good, to compete in just the Olympics is amazing, but to do so on home turf is even more special and I’m really looking forward to being in Paris in two weeks.”
One eye on the future
Whilst the immediate goal is to medal in Paris, Lombardi, who finished third overall on the WTCS last season, is one of the favourites to take the world title in 2024.
Understating her recent consistency, the French star said she was just happy to race well in Hamburg ahead of the Olympics, and that having the series lead is a bonus.
“It was really good [race in Hamburg], and I am just really happy to have the WTCS series lead. I thought I’d just wait and see how the run goes and I’m really happy with the final results.”
With two more races left in the series, in Weihai in September and Malaga in October, the race for the world title will ensure that triathlon fans have plenty to look forward to beyond the Olympics.
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