LONDON — Alistair Brownlee, a two-time Olympic champion, has declared his retirement from triathlon at the age of 36.
Brownlee secured gold medals at the London Games in 2012 and again at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016, achieving this remarkable feat alongside his younger brother, Jonny, who also earned medals in both events.
In addition to his Olympic success, Alistair Brownlee was a world champion in 2009 and 2011 and boasts the title of four-time European champion in his sport.
He took to social media platform X to announce that it was “time to close this chapter.”
“This signifies my transition from professional triathlon, a decision that brings with it a mix of dread and excitement,” he expressed.
Brownlee conveyed his eagerness for new ventures and mentioned various “projects I’m eager to tackle.”
However, he acknowledged that his tenure as an elite competitor had come to an end.
In a recent interview with the British Olympic team’s website, he stated, “It has become increasingly difficult for me.”
He elaborated, “I am not able to train nearly as much as I once could. Consequently, I found it challenging at times to stand on the starting line, aware that I wasn’t as prepared as I would have preferred.”
Brownlee further reflected on his age, saying, “I’m 36 now. I have been involved in this sport for a significant amount of time and there are numerous other pursuits I wish to explore in my life.”