Overcoming adversity has been a central theme in Georgia Taylor-Brown’s journey – whether that’s chasing Olympic gold, or more important matters.
The British triathlete was on crutches after injury struck 11 weeks before Tokyo 2020 and, amid the remnants of a tropical storm, a mid-race puncture dashed her hopes of gold.
Remarkably, Taylor-Brown recovered to achieve silver, and four days later helped Team GB to a historic mixed relay gold.
But the true extent of the ongoing hardship she faced was yet to surface.
At home, her long-term partner struggled with mental health issues. That relationship ended in 2022, yet the toll it had taken – emotionally and physically – was still revealing itself.
In the years since her Tokyo successes the 2020 world champion has continued to encounter setbacks, losing the second half of the 2023 season after tearing her calf.
But before her bid to qualify for Paris 2024 this weekend, Taylor-Brown is now both injury-free and – most crucially – happy.
“I think the body has a good way of telling you enough is enough. Getting injured last year was my body’s way of telling me I was still trying to push through and ‘now we are going to stop’,” Taylor-Brown, 30, tells BBC Sport.
“I went through a dark patch at the end of 2022. Racing was difficult because I didn’t want to be there. I hated it. I wanted to lock myself in my room and shut everyone out, but I had a job to do.
“It was a difficult time. I had been performing well but it got to a point where I couldn’t do it anymore. I didn’t want people to know that was my personal life. When I couldn’t really hide it any more, I had to get help.
“I had to shut down and fully recover from it all. I have found someone who loves me a lot. I feel like I’m in such a safe, happy place and I’m excited for life, which is a nice thing to be able to say.”
