A strong all-rounder who, at the age of 21, already has world and European titles to her name, Emma Lombardi is the latest graduate from France’s excellent school of triathlon. And she’s starting to peak just in time for next year’s Paris Olympics.
Who is Emma Lombardi?
Still extremely tender of age, Emma Lombardi has already shown plenty of flashes of brilliance in her short triathlon career to mark her out as one of the brightest talents to have emerged on that conveyor belt of A-grade French triathletes.
From a swimming background, Lombardi only committed to a multisport career at the age of 18. The pool had been her priority up until then, but with a national junior triathlon title already in her palmares, the switch of codes made perfect sense.
This was confirmed with a series of notable performances at elite level in both the European Cup and the World Cup.
But Lombardi’s true golden moment came in Edmonton at the WTCS Grand Final. Here she took gold in the 2021 U23 world championships, a commanding performance that no-one saw coming, least of all Lombardi herself.
Her victory was all the more amazing when considering her short-course heritage, gained on the French grand prix circuit. This was her debut at Olympic distance.
European medals would flow the following year (bronze in the elite women’s race, gold in the mixed relay), and a couple of appearances on WTCS podiums since have failed to contradict the opinion that Emma Lombardi will be a very strong and highly decorated competitor for many years.
Certainly don’t bet against her sneaking onto the podium when the Olympics descend on Paris next year.
How old is Emma Lombardi?
Emma Lombardi was born on 12 September 2001, making her 22 years of age.
Emma Lombardi’s career highlights
June 2019: Pride of a nation
At the age of 17 – and with swimming still largely her sporting priority – Lombardi becomes the French national junior champion, taking the title in comfortable fashion in Grignon in the Alps.
April 2021: A maiden elite top-10 finish
Now 19, Lombardi is racing among the elite women and claims her first top-ten finish in a European Cup race in Mellila, the autonomous Spanish city on the mainland of Africa. She finishes eighth in a race won by her fellow Frenchwomen Cassandre Beaugrand.
May 2021: An elite podium beckons
A month later, in another European Cup race, this time in Caorle near Venice, Lombardi climbs onto an elite podium for the first time. She finishes third, just six seconds shy of winner Lena Meissner of Germany.
May 2021: A first World Cup top 10
Lombardi’s impressive springtime continues when she takes sixth place in her first World Cup race in Sardinia.
August 2021: On top of the world
As impressive as Lombardi’s performances have been this year, her true breakthrough comes in Edmonton at the WTS Grand Final. Here, after pack-leading displays both in the water and on the bike, she breaks the tape to be crowned the U23 world champion.
It’s something of a bolt from the blue. This is Lombardi’s first-ever Olympic-distance race.
August 2022: Lombardi claims European medal
At the European Championships in Munich, Lombardi takes bronze, further demonstrating her middle-distance promise.
Having lost time on the run to Non Standford and Laura Lindemann, she is nonetheless the first Frenchwoman home, claiming the scalp of her higher-ranked compatriot Beaugrand.
August 2022: Golden girl
Two days after her bronze, Lombardi upgrades to European gold when the French mixed relay quartet romp to victory. Despite her swim background, her bike leg is the day’s fastest by a woman.
October 2022: A maiden WTCS podium
Showing that she’s very much ready for the big time, Lombardi finishes second behind Britain’s Georgia Taylor-Brown at the WTCS race in Cagliari, holding off the challenge of the USA’s Taylor Knibb. Others she leaves in her wake include Taylor Spivey, Sophie Coldwell and Beaugrand.
Another top 10 in the series comes the following month at the Grand Final in Abu Dhabi.
May 2023: History repeats in Sicily
Italy has always been a happy hunting-ground for Lombardi, confirmed by a second successive silver in the Cagliari leg of the WTCS series. Again, Taylor-Brown denies the Frenchwoman her first series race win.
September 2023: Finishes third in the 2023 World Series
In only her second season racing elite, Lombardi ends the year in third place behind Beth Potter in first and compatriot Cassandre Beaugrand in second.
October 2023: Third in the SLT series
Has a consistent season on the four-race SLT circuit to end the year in third place overall and with a heathy cheque for $25,000.
Emma Lombardi in quotes
On seemingly coming from nowhere to win the U23 world title in 2021: “I really didn’t expect the result in Edmonton. It was my first Olympic-distance race and my first world championships. I was really shocked. ‘No, this can’t be happening!’”
On following up her WTCS silver in Cagliari in 2022 with a repeat performance the following year on her return to Sicily: “It feels really good. I am beyond happy. Cagliari last year was such a good race and it didn’t disappoint this year too.”
On her triathlon inspiration, Jess Learmonth: “She came from swimming too. She’s really strong, one of the best athletes. She’s really impressive.”
What’s next for Emma Lombardi?
Having finished third overall in the 2023 World Triathlon series, in only her second year racing elite, Lombardi's short-term goal will be that first WTCS win.
Beyond that, representing France at her home Olympics at the end of July 2024, of course.
Top image credit: Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty Images
