Alistair and Jonny Brownlee spoke of their “very special” day after becoming the first British brothers to win gold and silver in the same Olympic event. The pair were locked in an almighty duel for triathlon gold along Copacabana beach before Alistair, at 28 the oldest by two years, struck for home to retain the triathlon title he won at London 2012.
Alistair said he hopes to go for a third gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games and admitted he “had to go through hell” to get the better of his brother in Rio.
“I was pretty confident we would get first and second,” he said. “I didn’t know entirely which way it would go. I’ve had the edge the last couple of races but he’s killed me in training every day. We’ve both been flying, pushing each other to the max. I had to go through hell and I did.”
When asked whether he had the mental edge over his brother, who also finished behind him with a bronze at London 2012, Alistair replied: “You can only go as hard as you can go.
“Maybe I have that little bit of endurance-based engine. At the finish I was just so happy. Last time I had to keep going, this time I had the chance to enjoy it. It’s probably never going to happen again so you have to enjoy it.”
The pair said they had never discussed beforehand the possibility of making history, even though they had been the bookmakers’ favourites to do so. “Finishing first and second was something that went unsaid,” Alistair said.
“We’re not really the kind of people to say that to each other but probably after 2010 we thought we could do it on the right day.
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“It was flipping close at London 2012, where I won gold and Jonny bronze, but Javier Gómez [of Spain] got between us.
“But we knew if it went right we could do it. When that gap got up to a minute on the bikes, we knew that was probably going to be the outcome – we just weren’t sure which way round that it would be,” Alistair said.
Gold and silver also means that the Brownlees became the first brothers to finish first and second in the same Olympic event since the Italian show jumpers Raimondo and Piero D’Inzeo in 1960.
Jonny said: “That’s a good first. I’m very proud of that. It’s very, very special to race next to your brother. We’ve very fortunate to do that.”
He also paid tribute to his older brother, who overcome a serious ankle injury last year to return to his best. “We had a tough year last year,” he said. “Only 12 months ago there was a test event here. Alistair ran around in about 36 minutes and was awful. I was at home on my crutches with a stress fracture. A lot of people said we’d got no chance. That makes it even more special.
“You’ve got to appreciate special athletes.”
“I realise how good Alistair is and I gave it everything to beat him. I was training as hard as I possibly could. And it’s a silver medal at an Olympic Games. If I wanted to get beaten by any athlete out there, it’s got to be Alistair.”
The pair were supported by their mother and father, who held a Yorkshire flag and Union Jack in the stands, as well as thousands of British fans who lined the course. However, there was one notable absentee – the pair’s younger brother, Ed.
As Alistair put it: “My little brother didn’t really bother coming, he’s at home training to be a vet. I think he’s milking cows – doing something far more interesting than watching us.”
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