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Triathlon celebrates performance and participation success post London 2012

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A year on from the medal-winning performances of Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee at the London 2012 Olympic Games the sport is gearing up to return to Hyde Park for the PruHealth World Triathlon Grand Final London in September as participation and access to triathlon increases across the capital.

 
Twelve months ago today, Alistair Brownlee delighted the home crowd of an estimated 300,000 people to win the Olympic gold medal and Jonathan overcame the drama of spending fifteen seconds in the penalty box to grasp the Olympic bronze medal behind Javier Gomez of Spain.
 
The brothers have been unbeatable so far this season. Both have missed races due to injury, but no one has beaten them in the ITU World Triathlon Series this year. They and Gomez are the top contenders for the world title when the PruHealth World Triathlon Grand Final comes to London from 11 to 15 September, setting up the tantalising prospect of another exciting battle between the three leading triathletes in the world.
 
Britain’s women have been inspired by the successes last summer with both Jodie Stimpson and Non Stanford having won ITU World Triathlon Series races for the first time this year. Stimpson aged 24 is currently ranked number two in the world and Stanford, also 24 years-of-age, is fourth in the world. 
 
Alistair Brownlee commented: “It’s pretty incredible to think that a whole year has passed already. 
 
“In sport you don’t have much time to reflect because you have to move on to the next competition, but the Olympics was special and I feel very fortunate that we’ll be back at the Olympic venue again next month for the World Championships.”  
 
He added: “I wouldn’t say my life has really changed; fundamentally I still love swimming, cycling, running and racing, but more people want to stop us for a chat now.”
 
Jonathan Brownlee is equally looking forward to the men’s race in Hyde Park on Sunday 15 September. He said: “It still blows me away when I think back to the Olympics, and I can’t wait to go back to Hyde Park and experience the atmosphere again.”
 
As well as the men’s and women’s races, there are strong prospects for Great Britain in the junior and U23 events as well as the paratriathletes who continue their road to Rio where they will feature in the Paralympic Games for the first time ever. Britain will also send its largest and strongest ever Great Britain Age-Group Team of amateur athletes to take part in the ITU Age-Group World Championship races at the PruHealth World Triathlon Grand Final London.
 
There has also been increased interest in triathlon since the Games, with participation up 8% in the London region midway through the season. Some small events have seen a staggering 70% increase in numbers and event organisers across the country have reported that their novice events in particular have sold out more quickly than ever this year.
 
Nine new events have been registered in London, four of which are in the Games host boroughs of Hackney and Newham. Five new triathlon clubs have been established in areas that previously lacked access to a club, and other London clubs have hit capacity. Engagement with partner organisations in the capital has also increased with the overall aim of achieving a legacy of increased participation in triathlon.
 
The free-to-view PruHealth World Triathlon Grand Final London welcomes the world’s best back to Hyde Park from 11 to 15 September and includes elite, paratriathlon and age-group ITU World Championship racing. To find out more about the event and to view the event schedule, please visit: www.britishtriathlon.org/london2013
 

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