France's Cassandre Beaugrand gave some insight into the suffocating pressure that comes with being a home favourite at the Olympics when, racked by nerves, she threw up at the start of the women's triathlon on July 31.
Less than two hours later, however, she reaped the benefits in spectacular style, surfing the wave of popular support rolling off the streets of Paris to surge clear on the run and win the country's first gold in the sport.
The 27-year-old had been in a breakaway pack of four on the 10km run leg, alongside compatriot Emma Lombardi, British world champion Beth Potter and Switzerland's Julie Derron.
She looked comfortable and relaxed as she strode through the finish zone on the first three laps and then made her move on the final lap to come home well clear.
The Frenchwoman grabbed the finish tape, kissed it and collapsed to the ground. Derron chased her home for silver with Potter taking bronze, leaving Lombardi in the worst position of all.
"I can't find the words, it's crazy what's happening to me. This morning, I would never have believed it," Beaugrand said.
Denne historien er fra August 01, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 01, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
PARISIANS' NOD TO THE GAMES
Event gets thumbs up from residents, who revel in the 'amazing' experience
Weir moves from spinning wheels to spinning discs
An emotional David Weir said on Sept 8 he had \"put his heart and soul\" into his Paralympic career, but now was the time for the British multiple champion to bring down the curtain on this chapter of his life.
China's Paralympic success fails to hit home
As the Paris Paralympics entered the final day of competition on Sept 8, China's athletes have been revelling in rampant success but few in the country appear to be paying attention.
Treble for US cagers, Jiang gets 7th gold
The United States won a third consecutive men's Paralympic wheelchair basketball title on Sept 7, while teenage Chinese swimmer Jiang Yuyan collected a remarkable seventh gold of the Paris Games.
BRONZE IS 'TOUGH' FOR FAVOURITE MA
Still, he can be proud of turning brutal encounter with bear into glorious career
Indonesia can hurt us: Aussie captain
Australia captain Mathew Ryan has stressed that the Socceroos cannot afford to underestimate Indonesia on Sept 10, as they go into their World Cup qualifier in Jakarta needing to bounce back from the surprise last-gasp loss to Bahrain five days earlier.
Wirtz and Musiala are hard to stop, says Nagelsmann
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has two reasons to be optimistic in Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala, and he believes that his team will be hard to beat when the duo \"step on the gas\".
'PROUDEST DAY' ON CARSLEY'S DEBUT
England's interim boss lauds the players for smooth 2-0 win over his native Ireland
Coaching makes me forget my age: Prasad
Cricket coach Sarika Siva Prasad is trim, fit and sports a head of black hair the moustached senior easily looks decades younger than 65.
BATTLE FOR FINAL PLAY-OFF SPOT HEATS UP
Dallas cannot afford another loss but Chicago have lost star Reese for the season
