Léonie Périault: Raising the Bar.

In 2025, you had one of the best seasons of your career. What were your goals for the 2026 season?

My main goal was to confirm that level of performance. After such a great season – finishing as world runner-up – you always want to do as well, or even better, but above all I wanted to keep improving and become more consistent throughout the season. The standard in world triathlon is rising all the time, so the aim was to be even more consistent, challenge for the top places in the WTCS races, and arrive at the year's major events in peak form so I could deliver when it mattered most.

You were runner up in the French national cross-country race this winter. What do you enjoy about the discipline?

I love the raw side of cross country – running on instinct. There's no real strategy involving equipment or transitions, it's running in its simplest form. It demands endurance, commitment and the ability to adapt to the terrain. It's also an excellent complement to triathlon, particularly for developing your running and breaking up the routine of training. For me, it's the very essence of athletics.

You won the mixed relay in Quiberon with the French team in June. What place does mixed relay racing have in your season?

It's very important. It's an honour to race in your own country in front of a home crowd. It's a very different event from the individual races, with a real team dimension. You're racing for the team and for the French jersey, which brings both extra motivation and extra pressure.

More recently you won at WTCS Hamburg, a race you'd also won the previous year. How did the race unfold?

Hamburg is, and always will be, a very special race for me. I have some wonderful memories there, from 2025 as well as 2018 and 2020 when we won the Mixed Relay World Championships with my teammates. In 2026, I managed to repeat that success with two victories – in the individual race and in the mixed relay, where we became world champions once again. It was an incredible weekend and I felt amazing. Everything just came together perfectly.

What's your big goal for the second half of the season?

To perform well in the World Triathlon Championship Series and continue building confidence while earning valuable points for the Olympic ranking. The goal is to be at my best for the World Championship final and to remain consistent throughout the season.

You're part of an exceptional generation of female triathletes. How do you experience that level of competition?

I think it's a real privilege. The standard is incredibly high and it forces us to constantly question ourselves and keep improving. If you want to stay at the front, you have to progress in every area. It's demanding, of course, but it's also hugely motivating. This level of competition pushes everyone to raise their game.

With such a packed race calendar, how do you stay fresh physically and mentally?

Recovery has become just as important as training. We pay close attention to sleep, nutrition and making sure we take time to rest. Mentally, I also like to step back a little between competitions, spend time with the people close to me and do things other than triathlon to recharge my batteries.

Is there a ritual you never sacrifice during the season?

I'm not particularly superstitious, but I do like to stick to my race-day routine. I prepare my equipment in the peace and quiet, eat rice four hours before the race, have my hair done in two braids and listen to music before leaving my room.