GOLD FOR BROTHERS IN ARMS!
MEN’S TRIATHLON British siblings both finish on the podium
ALISTAIR BROWNLEE collected Great Britain’s first triathlon gold – but only after brother Jonny had recovered enough to receive his bronze medal.
The Brownlee brothers dominated the race that started with a swim in the Serpentine and continued with cycling and running legs around Hyde Park.
The pair were only separated by Spaniard Javier Gomez who won silver.
But the medals were only handed out after Jonny had received hospital treatment for exhaustion at the end of gruelling race that was won in 1:46:25.
Alistair’s triumph was even more remarkable given the Yorkshireman’s battle with and Achilles tendon injury earlier in the year.
Brownlee’s triumph brought Team GB’s 19th gold of the games – levelling the already excellent tally of Beijing four years ago.
But while this was a cause for national triumph, the celebrations centred on one family after this race.
The winner said: “I am massively proud. The talk had been all about how Great Britain had never won a triathlon medal and how we were favourites to win medals.
Brothers
“The pressure was stacked up and so many things put to bed today.
“So to get through it and to have two brothers on the podium – you can’t ask for any more.
“I was relieved to finish. As much as I have been saying the Olympics is just like any other race, it’s not.
“It’s so exciting here and I woke up this morning like a kid on Christmas morning.
“The race was amazing and the crowds were unbelievable. My ears are still ringing from all that noise.”
Alistair Brownlee was so far ahead at the finish he was able to collect a union flag from the crowd and walk the last few yards over the finishing line.
But Jonny Brownlee’s hopes were wrecked when he picked up a 15 second penalty during the transition from the swim to the cycle race.
And Alistair said: “I knew he had a penalty and I was just telling him to calm down.
“I led off the running section quickly to open up a gap so he could take it and return to the race still in third place.
“He’ll be fine. Triathlon’s a hard sport and it’s hot and muggy.”