Jonny Brownlee misses out on World Triathlon Series title after late drama
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 19/09/16 1:26pm
Jonny Brownlee was denied a second world title despite being helped over the line by his brother Alistair in a dramatic end to the World Triathlon Series.
Jonny went into the final race of the season in Cozumel, Mexico in second place in the standings behind Spaniard Mario Mola, with Olympic champion Alistair out of contention having missed earlier races.
Jonny needed to win the race and Mola finish no higher than fourth, and that was exactly what looked set to happen after the brothers had again pushed the pace hard on the swim and bike legs.
Jonny was leading heading into the final kilometre of the 10km run but then the heat began to take its toll and he started to weave across the course.
South African Henri Schoeman, who won bronze behind the Brownlees in Rio, overtook Jonny to win the race.
Jonny stopped at the side of the road but Alistair, who had been running in third, put his arm around his brother and all but carried him along the final few hundred metres and then pushed him across the line.
With Jonny finishing second and Mola in fifth, it was the Spaniard who took the title by just four points.
Alistair suffered similar drama in Hyde Park in 2010, and said: "It's an awful position to be in. If he'd conked out before the finish line and there wasn't medical support, it could have been really dangerous.
"It was a natural human reaction to my brother but for anyone I would have done the same thing."
Not that Alistair was all sympathy, with the two-time Olympic champion adding: "I wish the flipping idiot had just paced it right and won the race. He could have jogged the last 2km."
Jonny Brownlee appeared in good spirits after receiving treatment, tweeting from his hospital bed.
Alongside a video of the dramatic end to the race, he wrote: "Normally when you have had too much to drink. This time it was the opposite #ouch."
He posted a picture of himself giving a thumbs-up sign as he lay in hospital and a picture of his runners-up trophy, also paying tribute to his brother by saying: "Not how I wanted to end the season, but gave it everything. Thanks @AliBrownleetri, your loyalty is incredible."
He added: "Well done @mariomola and @H--Schoeman. Also thanks to the @worldtriathlon and @BritTri medical care. I couldn't have been in better hands."
