Alistair Brownlee won gold in the Olympic triathlon today (Tuesday 7 August), with brother Jonathan adding bronze in a historic day for Team GB in Hyde Park.

 

The brothers became the first British triathletes to win Olympic medals, after the sport began its Olympic journey back in Sydney 2000. Alistair’s gold medal was also Team GB’s 19th of the Games, equalling the gold medal haul achieved in Beijing 2008.

 

Alistair Brownlee and Jonathan Brownlee came out of the 1,500m swim well-placed in sixth and fourth position respectively with teammate Stuart Hayes just behind the lead group in eighth-place after Richard Varga (SVK) had led a fast pace at the head of the field.

 

Straight out of T1, an elite group that included the Brownlee brothers, eventual silver medallist Javier Gomez (ESP), Alessandro Fabian (ITA) and Richard Varga attempted to establish a break, only to be hauled back by the chase group on the second lap of the seven-lap bike course. 

 

As the race continued, Team GB pushed a blistering pace at the front of the group led by Stuart Hayes who ensured any attacks were covered and that the Brownlee brothers could keep their rivals in check.

 

As the athletes entered the final 10km run, Stuart Hayes left Alistair and Jonathan to win their historic medals, knowing his job was complete. 

 

Alistair, Jonathan and Gomez established a 27-second lead on the rest of the field before Alistair and Javier began to turn the screw and began pulling away from Jonathan. Jonathan also had to take a 15-second penalty, however as he emerged from the penalty box, he still had a 12-second cushion on the chasers Laurent Vidal (FRA) and David Hauss (FRA).  

 

With the finishing line in sight and the fanatical crowd cheering Alistair home, the 24-year-old crossed the line as Olympic champion with the Union Jack draped around his shoulders in a time of 01:46.25. Javier was a further 11 seconds back with Jonathan finishing thirty-one second behind his brother.

 

Stuart Hayes crossed the line to rapturous applause from the crowds to finish in 37th position. 

 

Olympic champion, Alistair Brownlee commented: “I am immensely proud that my brother can get a bronze; we made no secret that we wanted to get both of us on the podium today and that’s not an easy thing to do considering Britain’s never won a medal in triathlon. We gave it everything; it shows the strength of training together and pushing each other on all the time.”

 

He added: “To get two British brothers on the podium, you could not ask for more and with Stuart Hayes we really were a team of three. Today we had a plan and we executed it really well."

 

Olympic Bronze medallist Jonathan discussed how he felt as Alistair pushed on for the gold medal: “To be honest, I was pleased that I was still there, as I knew we went off really hard. We must have put 15 or twenty seconds into the others in 2.5km – it’s a long way. Then Alistair pushed on, I knew Alistair was going to push on at some point, and I had a penalty. I was actually quite pleased to stop for 15-seconds at that point to be honest. It’s a tough, tough race. Bronze medal in the Olympics is great, and Alistair to win gold is great for the family, and I am really proud.”

 

Stuart Hayes added: “Those guys are amazing and I can’t imagine anyone beating them. It’s a great moment for British Triathlon.” 

 

Malcolm Brown, Olympic Performance Manager for British Triathlon said: “It was a fantastic effort because Gomez was sensational today, and as tough as he has been for many, many years and Alistair knew he had been in race.”

 

When asked about Jonathan’s bronze medal he continued: “It was a fantastic effort but not only in terms of effort but in terms of intelligence. He had to make decisions, and he clearly made the right decision to take it (the penalty) later rather than earlier and that’s what the Brownlees are; they’re intelligent, can make judgement calls and they are great racers and they showed that today.”

 

Team GB was cheered on by a huge crowd in Hyde Park today, and with a double medal-winning performance, British Triathlon hopes the crowd will be inspired to return in September next year when London hosts the ITU World Triathlon Series Grand Final.