Cassandre Beaugrand: How mental strategies led to an Olympic Title

Winning an Olympic gold medal is the ultimate dream for any athlete. For French triathlete Cassandre Beaugrand, that dream became a reality at the Paris 2024 Games. Yet, even months later, she found it hard to fully grasp the magnitude of her achievement. “My season wasn’t over, so I kept racing and moving forward. But during the off season, it hit me—I felt a bit empty. I had done it… and now, what’s next?”

Being a professional athlete comes with not only physical challenges but also immense mental demands. After a tough experience at Tokyo 2021, where the pressure caused her to not finish the individual race, Cassandre realized she needed to change her mindset. She shifted her focus from proving herself to others to proving it to herself. She learned to stay present, breaking the race down moment by moment—stroke by stroke, pedal by pedal—to better manage pressure.

Living and training in Girona has been essential to her growth, providing the perfect balance between intense training and enjoying everyday life. The city’s welcoming endurance sports community and ideal training conditions have made it a perfect fit for her new chapter.

A strong local connection with Tata Bikes, a nearby bike shop, has also played a big role. Their trust and passion for what they do give Cassandre confidence and support whenever she needs it.

With the Olympic gold secured, Cassandre is now looking ahead without rushing to define her future path. Recently, she set the French 5K record as a fun and motivating short-term challenge. Under the guidance of coach Glenn Polleunis, she focuses on smart training—prioritizing quality over quantity and balancing effort with recovery.

When asked about trying new challenges like the long-distance T100 format, she laughs, “I’m open to anything, but first, I want to try a time-trial bike and see how it goes!”

This story is part of Nafent Magazine volume 14. Read the full story in our digital or paper magazine. Go to our webshop to get yours.