Alistair Brownlee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Alistair Brownlee
MBE

Brownlee at Our Greatest Team Parade in 2012
Personal information
Nickname(s)	Al
Born	(1988-04-23) 23 April 1988 (age 37) Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England
Education	Bradford Grammar School, University of Leeds & Leeds Metropolitan University
Height	1.84 m
Weight	70 kg
Sport
Country	England / Great Britain
Club	Bingley Harriers Leeds Metropolitan University
Team	Corus
Coached by	Malcolm Brown Jack Maitland
Medal record Representing  Great Britain Men's triathlon Olympic Games Gold 2012 London Individual Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro Individual ITU Triathlon World Championships Gold 2009 Gold Coast Individual Gold 2011 Lausanne Team Gold 2011 Beijing Individual Gold 2014 Hamburg Team Bronze 2011 Lausanne Sprint Ironman 70.3 World Championship Silver 2019 Nice Individual Silver 2018 Port Elizabeth Individual European Triathlon Championships Gold 2010 Athlone Individual Gold 2011 Pontevedra Individual Gold 2014 Kitzbuhel Individual Gold 2019 Weert Individual ITU Triathlon Junior World Championships Gold 2006 Lausanne Junior Gold 2008 Vancouver U23 Silver 2007 Hamburg Junior European Junior Triathlon Championships Bronze 2006 Autun Junior Gold 2007 Copenhagen Junior Men's duathlon ITU Duathlon World Championships Silver 2006 Corner Brook Junior European Duathlon Championships Bronze 2020 Punta Umbria Elite Men's aquathlon ITU Aquathlon World Championships Gold Cozumel 2016 Individual Representing  England Men's triathlon Commonwealth Games Gold 2014 Glasgow Triathlon Gold 2014 Glasgow Mixed team relay Silver 2018 Gold Coast Mixed team relay

Alistair Edward Brownlee (born 23 April 1988) is a former English triathlete. He is famous for being the only athlete to win two Olympic gold medals in the individual triathlon event. He won these at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Alistair has also won many other big titles. He is a four-time World Champion in triathlon. He won the individual World Championship twice (2009, 2011) and the World Team Championship twice (2011, 2014). He also won the European Championship four times (2010, 2011, 2014, 2019) and the Commonwealth Games in 2014. Many people think he is one of the best male triathletes ever.

His younger brother, Jonathan Brownlee, is also a very successful triathlete. Together, the Brownlee brothers were a dominant force in Olympic distance triathlon during the 2010s. They won a total of three gold, one silver, and one bronze medal at the Olympics. Alistair retired from triathlon in November 2024.

Early Life and Education

Alistair Brownlee grew up in Yorkshire, England. He went to Bradford Grammar School. Later, he studied Sports Science and Physiology at the University of Leeds. He also earned a master's degree in Finance.

His family was very sporty. His dad, Keith, was a runner, and his mum, Cathy, was a swimmer. Alistair is the oldest of three brothers. His younger brother, Jonathan Brownlee, is also a famous triathlete. Jonathan won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics, a silver in 2016, and a gold in the mixed relay at the 2020 Olympics. Their youngest brother, Edward, enjoys rugby and water polo.

Alistair first learned about triathlon from his uncle, Simon Hearnshaw. As a young person, Alistair was a great runner, especially in fell and cross country races. He won many local titles.

He decided to focus on triathlon after winning the World Junior Championships in 2006. He moved back to Yorkshire to train and study at the University of Leeds. He trained at the Carnegie High Performance centre. His coaches were Malcolm Brown and Jack Maitland.

Triathlon Career Highlights

Alistair Brownlee wins the Hyde Park Triathlon, London, August 2011

Alistair Brownlee first competed in the Olympics in 2008 in Beijing. He finished 12th, which was the best result for a British athlete. In 2008, he also won the Under-23 World Championship.

In 2009, he became the ITU Triathlon World Champion. He won all five races he entered in the 2009 World Championship Series. This made him the first person to win World Triathlon titles at Junior, Under-23, and Senior levels.

In 2010, Alistair had a leg injury, which made it hard to defend his world title. But he still won races in Madrid and the European Championships. He also won the final race of the 2010 ITU Series.

The year 2011 was very successful for Alistair. He won two more ITU series events. He also successfully defended his European title, sharing the podium with his brother Jonathan. Alistair then won the 2011 ITU world title. He also won the gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics, with Jonathan taking the bronze.

At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Alistair won the triathlon gold medal. His brother Jonathan won the silver. Alistair also won another gold medal in the mixed triathlon team relay at the same games. He competed with Jonathan, Vicky Holland, and Jodie Stimpson.

A famous moment happened at the 2016 World Triathlon Series in Mexico. His brother Jonathan was struggling near the end of the race due to heat and exhaustion. Alistair gave up his own chance to win. Instead, he helped his brother cross the finish line. He pushed Jonathan to finish second, and Alistair came in third.

Alistair started competing in longer triathlon races in 2017. He won his first half-iron distance race in Gran Canaria. He also won the North American Ironman 70.3 Championships. He finished second at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in both 2018 and 2019.

Alistair Brownlee announced his retirement from triathlon on 21 November 2024.

Major Titles and Achievements

Alistair Brownlee has won many titles throughout his career:

• Seven-time Yorkshire Cross Country Champion (from Under-13 to Senior)
• Seven-time Yorkshire fellrunning champion
• Five-time Chevin Chase winner
• 2006 Junior European Duathlon Champion
• 2006 Junior World Champion
• 2007 Junior European Champion
• 2007 Junior World Vice-Champion
• 2008 U23 World Champion
• 2009 Hyde Park Triathlon Champion
• 2009 British National Elite Duathlon Champion
• 2009 ITU World Champion
• 2010 ETU European Champion
• 2011 World Team Champion
• 2011 ETU European Champion
• 2011 ITU World Champion
• 2012 World Team Champion
• 2012 Olympic Champion
• 2014 European Champion
• 2014 World Team Champion
• 2014 Commonwealth Games Champion
• 2014 Commonwealth Games Team Gold
• 2016 Olympic Champion
• 2016 Aquathlon Champion

ITU Competition Summary

From 2005 to 2010, Alistair Brownlee competed in 31 ITU events. He finished in the top ten 24 times. This included 13 gold medals, 5 silver medals, and 2 bronze medals.

• In 2008, he won the Under-23 World Championship.
• In 2009, he won the Dextro Energy World Championship Series. He placed first in almost all the races, including Madrid, Washington DC, Kitzbühel, London, and Gold Coast.
• In 2010, he started the season with a European Championship gold medal.
• In 2011, he won World Championship Series races in Madrid and Kitzbühel. He also became the European Elite Champion again.

Images for kids

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  Alistair Brownlee wins the Hyde Park Triathlon, London, August 2011

See Also

In Spanish: Alistair Brownlee para niños

• 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics gold post boxes