Olympic gold medallists Jess Learmonth, Jonny Brownlee, Georgia Taylor-Brown and Alex Yee talk through their history-making success in Tokyo six months ago as they look ahead to World Triathlon Championship Series Leeds, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and Paris 2024.

You can listen to the British Triathlon episode on the Anything But Footy podcast here.

Talking about the Tokyo mixed relay event, the team shared how much not only them, but their supporters enjoyed the race.

“I was shocked at how much interest the relay got,” Learmonth reflected.  “I received more excited messages about the relay and format,” added Yee, who also claimed individual silver in Tokyo.

For Brownlee, Tokyo was going to be his last Olympic race, but after being handed his split times at the end of the race, things quickly changed.

“Literally in the space of half an hour I’d gone from it being my last race to looking at my split times and thinking I could do this again,” he said.

Taylor-Brown added mixed relay gold to the individual silver medal she won a few days before, and she shared how much the moment in Tokyo meant to the team, despite not having their friends and family with them.

“It was so nice when we were on the podium, and we could see all of the staff on the grandstand and they were so proud,” Taylor-Brown explained.

“There’s the team and then there’s the team,” said Yee. “We’re the ones who are lucky enough to do the fun bit but there’s a whole team behind us performing at the highest level in their profession as well.”

The World Triathlon Championship Leeds event this year will host the mixed relay event for the first time, with the team hoping to repeat their success enjoyed on the Olympic stage.

“Leeds is always one of the best on the circuit and the crowds really get behind you,” Learmonth said. “I can’t wait to have it at Roundhay”.

“It will be perfect for a mixed team relay. It’s great to watch live as there is so much going on,” Brownlee added.

Following changes announced by World Triathlon ahead of the 2022 season, the event will mix up the order that athletes will race in, with the mixed relay now being raced over a man-woman-man-woman format.

“It is a great idea to mix it up a little bit,” says Taylor-Brown. “I don’t think it will change much for us because we are quite strong across the board, but it may put other countries in the race for longer.”

The World Triathlon Championship Series Leeds takes place in Roundhay Park on 11 and 12 June 2022. Entries are open now – there are swim, bike, run events for all levels and experiences, including a relay option, where you can team up with two people to complete the triathlon together by taking a discipline each.

Volunteering opportunities have also launched and you can apply for the unique experience of volunteering at one of three major British Triathlon events across the UK now.