Alistair Brownlee supporting next generation of triathletes
Other first steps taken by Brownlee have led to additional successes, such as setting up The Brownlee Foundation more than 10 years ago.
Alongside brother Jonny Brownlee, a three-time Olympic triathlon medal winner himself, the foundation has helped more than 75,000 young kids get active. Initiatives include inviting school children, aged nine to 11, to a free session for a first triathlon experience.
But the help doesn’t stop there.
“We’re trying to really support the follow-on opportunities and the activities for those children who want to do more swimming, cycling and running,” Brownlee told us. “We do that in lots of ways, by helping and working with local stakeholders, providing equipment, bikes, helmets, bike storage, sheds to schools and clubs, just any way we can help out.”
Education around being active, health and fitness, and healthy eating are also part of the programme, while unearthing the next jewel in the British triathlon crown is never far from Brownlee’s mind.
Aware more than most that finding the next superstar among the next crop of GB hopefuls is not an exact science, Brownlee admitted: “I wasn’t the most talented 14 or 15-year-old, so it’s hard to identify which of those athletes are going to be the next potential Olympic champion, but the important thing is they have the opportunity to go out, train hard, compete a lot, and progress over the years.”
Brownlee also has nothing but encouragement for the next generation of triathletes who he hopes will carry on the tradition of Team GB being the most successful nation in Olympic triathlon, with 11 medals.
A rather more direct impact than facilitating long-term programmes also happened at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
When compatriot, Alex Yee looked to have run out of gas in the race for gold in the closing stages of the run, Brownlee, standing roadside watching on, could see that the frontrunner was fading fast.
“I kind of knew with a lap to go that the race was absolutely on for Alex, and he wouldn’t know that because he didn’t know that the Kiwi Hayden Wilde was struggling,” said Brownlee, “and whether anyone else would be able to identify that and actually shout at him, I didn’t know.
“I was lucky enough to be standing in a quiet part of the course where there’s no-one else, where I could actually shout at him, so I just yelled, ‘go for it’, ‘believe you can do it’ or something…”
Yee heard him, putting on an amazing spurt to go on and win the race, all starting with that single step taken after hearing Brownlee’s encouragement.
Brownlee would not officially retire from professional triathlon until three months after the Games in France, but when he did, a more personal side-step away from the competitive environs was required.