Leeds graduate and triathlon legend, Alistair Brownlee, retires aged 36

The double Olympic triathlon champion and University of Leeds graduate, Alistair Brownlee, has announced his retirement from the sport aged 36.

After an extraordinary 18-year career, Alistair, who graduated in 2009 with a degree in sports science and physiology, is the only athlete to successfully defend Olympic triathlon gold.

The University of Leeds reports that both Alistair and his brother, Jonny Brownlee, a 2012 history graduate, maintained close ties with the university.

Born and raised in the city, the Brownlee brothers trained at the University of Leeds throughout their careers, both as students and alumni, with Alistair making his Olympic debut while still a student in 2008.

Alistair first competed in Beijing aged 20 and finished 12th, although he led until the final three kilometres. He was crowned world champion later that year.

In 2014, Alistair credited the University for helping him balance both his education and athletic pursuits:

He said: “We both really appreciated how the University supported us during our time here.

“Leeds enabled us to juggle our education and training commitments, so we were able to enjoy the best of both worlds.”

Claiming world champion victory in 2009 and 2011, Alistair is the only triathlete to be crowned junior world champion, U23 world champion, European champion and Olympic champion.

Over the duration of his career, Alistair has also claimed four European titles and won the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, amassing a total of 22 World Triathlon Series gold medals.

The remarkable achievements played a pivotal role in the rise of the renowned Leeds Triathlon Centre, inspiring a new generation of world-class athletes.

Between 2012 and 2024, athletes training in Leeds earned 16 Olympic medals collectively.

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The Brownlee brothers were also instrumental in bringing a World Triathlon Series race to Leeds, with Alistair’s victories in 2016 and 2017 standing out as career highlights.

In 2016, during the Triathlon World Series event in Mexico, Alistair assisted his brother across the finish line after Jonny began to falter on the final stretch.

Jonny, two years younger than Alistair, had been leading the race when the intense Mexican heat caused his legs to give out.

At the time in third place, Alistair caught up and supported Jonny for the last 700 meters, helping him cross the line, allowing Jonny to finish second while Alistair followed just behind.

via YouTube

In 2017, Alistair and Jonny contributed significantly to the creation of a £5 million sports facility at the University of Leeds. Named the Brownlee Centre, it became the UK’s first dedicated triathlon training hub.

The brothers later founded the Brownlee Foundation to encourage children’s participation in sports. Their free, non-competitive triathlon events have reached over 66,000 young participants.

via Instagram

Leeds has become synonymous with triathlon, and the model developed by Alistair and Jonny has created a path for generations of Leeds athletes to follow.

Bradley Colver, Head of Triathlon at the University of Leeds, praised Alistair’s contributions.

He said: “Success breeds success. People want to come to Leeds to be part of something that has bred world champions, future world champions and Olympic medallists.

“A lot of the people come to Leeds because of Alistair.”

Posting on X, Alistair said: “Triathlon has profoundly shaped my life. I have dedicated nearly half of it to being a professional athlete, fulfilling my childhood dream and achieving far more than I ever dared to imagine.

“I look forward to embracing a slightly slower pace of life, yet not too slow.

“There’s an exciting array of events, challenges and adventures awaiting me – things I’ve always wanted to have a crack at but haven’t had the chance to pursue.”

According to the BBC, World Triathlon president Antonio Arimany paid tribute to Alistair, saying his legacy will “live as long as the sport itself”.

He continued: “Alistair’s contribution to the world of triathlon over more than two decades is immeasurable.

“He is a true icon of our sport and he will inspire generations to come of young triathletes from all around the world.”

Featured Image via Youtube