Search
shop

‘It’s cool when worlds collide’ – Yee hails Norwegians’ exploits

Alex Yee on his rivalry with Hayden Wilde and how he's enjoyed watching the Norwegians dominate long course racing
News Director
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Alex Yee had another superb season in 2022, ticking off his main goal in style when he won individual and mixed relay golds at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

As he told us when reflecting on the year, those home games were a huge opportunity: “It’s probably the first time I’ve ever put an outcome goal on something. I really went in there wanting to win the event.”

He just missed out adding a world title to those golds at the WTCS season-finale in Abu Dhabi – as did his great rival Hayden Wilde. They came fourth and sixth respectively – one place higher would have seen one of them and not Leo Bergere take the overall crown.

Advertisement

Excited for the future

Both Yee and Wilde are on the shortlist of five for the Male Triathlete of the Year at the first-ever Global Triathlon Awards in Nice this week.

Their rivalry was one of the enduring stories of the season – fiercely competitive and closely fought, but also with a huge amount of mutual respect.

And Alex told us: “I think that friendship does trickle across to the race course.

“I’d never have imagined growing up that I’d be in a position where I’d be in a rivalry, which I guess is at the top of our sport.

“We’ve had plenty of good battles, along with loads of other guys, and I’m sure it will last for a long time and a lot of other people will join the floor. I’m just excited to see what’s coming.”

No hype required

Equally relevant to the Global Triathlon Awards, which are aiming to bring all facets and distances of the sport together, is the strong influence of the Norwegians.

It’s the most I’ve ever watched long-course racing – I think having the short course guys in it has really animated it for me.

Kristian Blummenfelt, who just beat Yee to gold in the Tokyo Olympics, won both a 70.3 World Championship and an IRONMAN World Championship in 2022. He looks to be favourite for the GTAs, along with compatriot Gustav Iden who notched a record-breaking triumph on his debut in Kona in October.

That pair won a host of other big races too and have taken middle-distance and full-distance racing by storm, but now have their sights back on short-course ahead of next year’s Paris Olympics.

That means they’ll be locking horns with Yee, Wilde and co again – and Yee for one is relishing the battles ahead.

He told us: “Having the Norwegians back obviously changes the dynamic of a race. I can’t even name their palmarès. It’s ridiculous with Kona victories, world records, all of that kind of stuff.

“I think when you race guys like that, you appreciate the level that they’re at. I think with their scientific, physiological approach, I think they were always, in my eyes, going to achieve big things.”

Iden Blummenfelt run kona 2022 photo credit Tom Pennington Getty Images for IRONMAN
Iden and Blummenfelt [Photo credit: Tom Pennington / Getty Images for IRONMAN]

Seeing current top ITU athletes also have major long course success – and now coming back to the shorter distances – is something that Yee feels could be replicated by others.

He added: “I think this is only the start of what we’re going to see from them, short course and long course. So I think that’s really exciting and I think they’ll probably be the leaders in meaning quite a few of our short course guys going across. I have no doubt that Vince [Vincent Luis] is going to be incredible over the long distance, and Hayden as well, and many others.

“It’s the most I’ve ever watched long-course racing – I think having the short course guys in it has really animated it for me.

“I listen to the Triathlon Mockery podcast [created by Joe Skipper and Tom Oosterdijk] and there’s such a big ‘divide’ between us, though we do the same sport. So I think that it’s cool when worlds do collide eventually, and I think they seem to appreciate what we do, and likewise for us as well.”

You can find out who lifts the Male Triathlete of the Year award and all the other categories with our coverage here on Friday evening.

Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
TRI247 podcast p/b Challenge Family episode 2
Go behind the scenes at Challenge Roth with the latest episode of the TRI247 podcast
Cadomotus Chronos triathlon cycling shoes
The triathlon cycling shoe that promises a 10-watt saving: Cadomotus Chronos Aero triathlon cycling shoes review
Challenge Family Roth
Five things you need to know about the Challenge Roth bike course
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
latest News
Julie Derron wins T100 San Francisco 2025
Olympic medallist and T100 winner reveals she’s stepping up to full distance next
Sam Laidlow Challenge Roth press conference 2025
Challenge Roth 2025: Laidlow prompts groundbreaking move as Race Ranger data will be made public
Kat Matthews IRONMAN Texas Finish Line 2025
Kat Matthews and Magnus Ditlev top 70.3 Swansea fields as IRONMAN Pro Series heads to Wales
Kristian Blummenfelt Kristian Hogenhaug Casper Stornes IRONMAN Frankfurt 2025
Triathlon GOAT Mark Allen sends “great champions” message to red-hot superstar Kristian Blummenfelt
Zachary Josie bike
Age-group athlete with dwarfism says INCREDIBLE goal is “in his grasp” at Challenge Roth
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...