Triathlon – Brownlee retains title in British family 1-2

Britain’s Alistair Brownlee stands on the podium after receiving the gold medal for winning the men’s triathlon event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016.

“I’ve had good and bad points over the last four years, I was lucky enough to have one of my best days in London and if I can have that best day again I think it will be very similar”, he said.

Javier Gomez of Spain, who took silver in London, has been ruled out of the event after breaking his elbow in a cycling crash.

Slovakia’s Richard Varga took care of the pace setting on the single-lap swim off Copacabana Beach, leading the Brownlee Brothers and a small group of contenders back to the beach in a tick over 17 minutes. Every day Ive woken up in pain.

Alistair carried the Yorkshire flag as he crossed the line.

Remember four years ago when praise rained down on Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee after the brothers took first and third respectively in the Olympic triathlon?

The two brothers showed they’ve been training together, alternating shifts beautifully, although Jonny’s appeared to be a little longer.

The pair, written off 12 months ago when Jonny was on crutches and Alistair out of form, shed tears as they embraced on the ground. At the finish, Alistair had a 7 seconds lead on his brother and 42 seconds on surprise bronze medalist Henri Schoeman of South Africa. Murrays leadership made an impact as the first chase group stopped the time bleeding and maintained a 75 seconds gap to the end. As they ran through transition to grab their bikes, Alistair went the wrong way, but quickly adjusted and was soon pushing hard on the pedals over eight laps of the 40km hilly course.

Alistair added: “I look at it really that you want to beat the rest of the field first, and then try and beat Jonny”.

“We’ve pushed each other and helped each other and that’s why it was so emotional today”. Jonny had the edge and I wasn’t sure I would win, I knew had to go through hell and I did.

“I was delighted at the finish”.