British triathlete Alistair Brownlee, double Olympic champion, announced Thursday that he was retiring at the age of 36.
“It is time to close this chapter, that of professional triathlon, a moment that I approach with as much fear as enthusiasm”wrote Brownlee, on his social media.
Crowned at the London Olympics in 2012, he retained his crown in Rio in 2016, becoming the first triathlete to achieve this performance. The Briton is also a double world champion (2009 and 2011) and a quadruple European champion.
“Triathlon has profoundly shaped my life, I have dedicated almost half of it to being a professional athlete, fulfilling my childhood dream and achieving more than I ever dared to imagine”he adds.
Brownlee drew praise when he helped his older brother Jonathan – a silver medalist in Rio and a bronze medalist in London – cross the line when the latter was exhausted at the World Triathlon Series in Mexico in 2016 The image was widely relayed and viewed on social networks.
The president of the International Triathlon Federation Antonio Arimany praised Brownlee's legacy. “Alistair’s contribution to the world of triathlon over more than two decades is immeasurable”he said.
“He is a true icon of our sport and will inspire future generations of young triathletes around the world”he continued.
