Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee tells Sky Sports his main aims
Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee has his sights fully set on the Commonwealth Games and Rio Olympics.
By Paul Higham Twitter: @SkySportsPaulH
Last Updated: 02/10/13 12:08pm
One half of the famous Yorkshire brothers, Alistair had injury problems all through the season and it was left to Jonny to try and claim the world title in London recently, but he agonisingly lost out to Javier Gomez in a thrilling finish.
Alistair Brownlee struggled from one race to the next in the World Series, as he desperately battled injuries to try and win the world title, but that meant he was nowhere near full fitness in London as he bravely completed in the event despite obviously struggling.
It was one race too many for Brownlee, and although he had such a punishing season, he told Sky Sports that he is fully committed to getting back to his best for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year and then the Rio Olympics.
"There's definitely no retirement talk," Brownlee told Sky Sports News Radio. "This year with the World Series, to be world champion in triathlon you have to win the World Series, you have to do five or six races in the year.
Tough year
"It's just been tough this year because I've tried to do enough races for the World Series and from one race to the other trying to get my ankle better and it's just been really tough.
"Maybe I'd have been better not doing as many races to be completely fit for London but that would have been forfeiting the world title so it's just a decision I had to make this year.
"But I absolutely want to win more world titles, then obviously the Commonwealth Games next year then on to Rio."
Alistair said that Jonny's near miss in London will only make him more determined as well, and they will both be looking to bounce back stronger next season.
"I'm sure it does make him that bit more determined," he added of his brother. "Obviously he missed out to a brilliant Gomez, who we're forever racing and having lots of fun racing. He's very determined already but maybe a bit more now.
"But we'll both be working to make ourselves better. The big thing in triathlon is the Olympics which is in three years' time, but I've never had the chance to race in a Commonwealth Games before so that's the really important thing on my horizon now."
Olympic boost
The success of the Brownlees has sparked a big surge of interest in triathlon, and they themselves launched their own event in North Yorkshire, with the Brownleee Triathlon a big success.
Alistair said he has noticed the upsurge in interest in the sport since London 2012 - it is one of the few sports where elite athletes and first-timers can race together.
"I was stood in a rather cold field in Yorkshire watching 1,000 people about to do a triathlon, over 300 of who, it's their first ever race - so I think triathlon is one of the sports that has really, really benefited from the Olympics.
"I think that's one of the special things about triathlon - it's a sport where you can see me and Jonny racing on the same course that you can enter and race on, in a spectacular environment.
"In London people got to race on the Olympic course, it's got something for everyone and it allows people who are the successful athletes in the sport to mix and race with people who can do it for the first time."
