Grade 8 saxophone and a puppy that chases sheep: get to know triathlete Beth Potter

Beth Potter is part of Great Britain’s triathlon squad for the 2024 Paris Olympics – her second Games having competed in the 10,000 metres in Rio in 2016. She switched to the triathlon after those Olympics and won the World Triathlon Championship Series final in Spain earlier this year.

Who is the one person you would like to meet, dead or alive?
Mainly because I’ve been watching the Netflix documentary, I’ll say David Beckham. To hear about his career and how he coped with really challenging times. I was interested to find out he struggled with anxiety.

Describe yourself in three words.
Stubborn, impatient, but also pretty caring and loyal.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
I would love to be able to time travel. That’s probably my impatient nature coming out. When I want to be somewhere, I want to be there now. After races I just want to be back home in my own bed.

What is the best compliment you have ever received?
Probably something Alistair Brownlee said to me because he doesn’t give them out often! If I’ve done something well and he congratulates me after the race or says “well done”. It would have had to be a pretty good performance to impress him and it’s the ones that you don’t hear that often that mean the most.

What is your worst habit?
I can’t just sit still. I’ve always got to be doing something but it’s good for me to switch off and getting to that point is hard for me.

What is your most embarrassing moment?
Probably something my mum dressed me in for school. The shoes she made me wear meant I was always embarrassed going to school and I just felt like I looked ridiculous. I would change my shoes and put the school ones in the bin because I didn’t like the ones she would buy me.

If you could switch lives with anyone in the world for a day, who would it be?
I would like to be Taylor Swift on one of her Eras tour dates. Being on stage, singing all the songs – seeing what that is like would be pretty cool.

What is your favourite childhood memory?
Going on camping holidays with my mum, my dad and my sister. We would do it every year and it was so much fun. I also remember going on holiday to Croatia and being on a banana boat, swinging from side to side. One of us was on the back and that bit would flip every time so you’d get chucked off and would spend all your time trying to get back on.

What is your favourite WhatsApp group?
It’s a group with some friends in Leeds called All The Doctors. I’m the only one who isn’t a doctor, either in medicine or with a Phd, but I made the group. There is always something funny going on and after races I come back to messages from them.

What is your most prized possession?
My three-year-old cocker spaniel Charlie. I got him as a puppy and I love him to bits. He can do no wrong in my eyes, even when he chases sheep.

What song gets you on the dancefloor?
Probably something that is in the charts at the moment. Or a classic from Britney Spears from way back, something old school.

What is your dream three-course meal and dinner guests?
I would want all my family and friends in the same room because it’s not that often that everyone comes together. For the starter, I’d have a nice burrata and tomato salad, then an array of pizzas and sticky toffee pudding.

If you could go on any reality TV show what would it be?
Race Around The World. That is right up my street. I love a challenge, I love travelling, I love to see where I can get to and I’m very competitive. I want to go to Asia and also South America, so maybe we could do it there. I’d probably do it with my sister.

Do you prefer a night in or a night out?
Definitely a night in. With pizza and my dog.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
My training partners have said to keep turning up even when you don’t feel like you’re getting anywhere. And believe in yourself. I’ve struggled with believing in myself, so it’s almost like faking it until making it and backing yourself. It really helped me get to where I am today.

What is the best concert you have been to?
Mumford and Sons at the Olympic Park.

What is your karaoke song?
Spice Girls – Wannabe.

If you had a time machine, would you go back in time or go to the future?
Back in time, to re-live some memories. I don’t want to spoil what is to come.

What is your biggest non-sporting achievement?
I got to grade eight on the jazz saxophone, but I don’t play any more.

What is the best book you’ve ever read?
I’m not a big book reader but I do like autobiographies – Andre Agassi’s was really good. I also like The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

And what is your favourite TV show?
I like anything with crime stuff. Right now probably Top Boy and the classic one is Line of Duty.

If you were not a sportsperson, what would you be doing?
I’d probably be using my hands in some way. I like to do things. I’ve got a teaching degree but I’d like to do something where I’m making things. I don’t know what vocation but something creative with my hands.