Alistair Brownlee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Alistair Brownlee
OBE

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 famous English former triathlete. A triathlete is an athlete who competes in a race that combines three sports: swimming, cycling, and running. Alistair is the only person to have won two Olympic gold medals in the individual triathlon event. He achieved this at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

He also won the Triathlon World Champion title twice (in 2009 and 2011). He was also a World Team Champion twice (in 2011 and 2014). Alistair won the European Championship four times and the 2014 Commonwealth Games triathlon. He is considered one of the greatest male triathletes ever.

Alistair's younger brother, Jonathan Brownlee, is also a very successful triathlete. Together with other top athletes like Mario Mola and Javier Gómez, the Brownlee brothers were the best in Olympic distance triathlon during the 2010s. They won many medals, including three gold, one silver, and one bronze at the Olympics.

Alistair Brownlee was honored with the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2013. He was later made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2025 for his contributions to triathlon and charity work. He officially retired from triathlon in November 2024.

Early Life and Education

Alistair Brownlee grew up in Yorkshire, England. He went to Bradford Grammar School. He first started studying medicine at Girton College, Cambridge, but decided to change his path. He then studied Sports Science and Physiology at the University of Leeds, finishing his degree in 2010. He also earned a master's degree in Finance from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2013.

His family was very sporty. His father, Keith, was a runner, and his mother, 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 medal at the 2016 Olympics, and a gold medal in the mixed relay triathlon at the 2020 Olympics. Their youngest brother, Edward, enjoys rugby and water polo.

Alistair was introduced to triathlon by his uncle, Simon Hearnshaw. When he was younger, Alistair was a very good runner in both fell running (running over hills and mountains) and cross country running (running over natural terrain). He won several county titles in Yorkshire.

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 and was coached by Malcolm Brown and Jack Maitland. In 2025, Alistair received an honorary degree from the University of York.

Triathlon Career Highlights

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

Alistair Brownlee competed for Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He finished 12th, being the top British competitor. In 2008, he also won the under-23 world championship.

In 2009, he became the ITU Triathlon World Champion. He won all five of the World Championship Series events he entered that year. This made him the first person to win ITU world titles at Junior (2006), Under 23 (2008), and Senior (2009) levels.

Overcoming Injuries

In 2010, Alistair had a stress fracture in his leg, which is a tiny crack in a bone. This injury kept him from competing for a while. When he returned, he won races in Madrid and the European Triathlon Union (ETU) Championships. Despite winning the final race of the 2010 ITU Series, he lost his overall World Championship title due to his injury.

In 2011, he had a tough start to the season with a fall in Sydney. However, he quickly bounced back. In just three weeks, he won two ITU series events and successfully defended his European title. His brother Jonathan won the silver medal in that European race. Alistair went on to win the 2011 ITU world title.

Olympic and Commonwealth Success

Alistair Brownlee won the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. His brother Jonathan won the bronze medal in the same race. This was a historic moment for the brothers.

In 2014, Alistair won the Commonwealth Games Triathlon. He controlled the race with his brother Jonathan, who took the silver medal. Alistair also won a gold medal in the mixed triathlon team relay at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. He competed with his brother Jonathan, Vicky Holland, and Jodie Stimpson.

At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Alistair won his second Olympic gold medal. His brother Jonathan won the silver medal, making them the first brothers to finish first and second in an Olympic triathlon.

Helping His Brother

In 2016, during the final race of the World Triathlon Series in Mexico, his brother Jonathan was leading but started to struggle badly from heat and exhaustion. Alistair gave up his own chance to win the race. Instead, he helped his brother cross the finish line, pushing him to second place. Alistair finished third. This moment showed great sportsmanship and brotherly love.

Long-Distance Racing

After his Olympic successes, Alistair started competing in longer triathlon races called "half-iron distance" events. He won his first long-course race in April 2017. He also won the North American Ironman 70.3 Championships, which qualified him for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship. 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, after a long and successful career.

Major Titles and Achievements

Alistair Brownlee has won many important titles throughout his career:

• Seven-time Yorkshire Cross Country Champion
• Seven-time Yorkshire fellrunning champion
• 2006 Junior European Duathlon Champion
• 2006 Junior World Champion
• 2007 Junior European Champion
• 2008 U23 World Champion
• 2009 ITU World Champion
• 2010 ETU European Champion
• 2011 World Team Champion
• 2011 ETU European Champion
• 2011 ITU World Champion
• 2012 Olympic Champion
• 2014 European Champion
• 2014 World Team Champion
• 2014 Commonwealth Games Champion (Individual)
• 2014 Commonwealth Games Team Gold (Mixed Relay)
• 2016 Olympic Champion
• 2016 Aquathlon Champion

Images for kids

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  Brownlee at Our Greatest Team Parade in 2012

See also

In Spanish: Alistair Brownlee para niños