“Unfortunately I’ve fallen short each time” – Alex Yee shares lessons from tough Grand Final results

At just 25-years-old, Great Britain’s Alex Yee is already one of the nation’s most decorated short course athletes, with two Commonwealth Games golds and two Olympic Games medals to his name.

However, for three consecutive years, one major title has so far eluded him. Having finished third, second and fifth in 2021, 2022 and 2023 in the WTCS, the World Championship title has remained just out of reach.

In 2022 and 2023, Yee reached the Grand Final in pole position but failed to deliver, losing out to French stars Leo Bergere and Dorian Coninx. Despite the disappointment, the Londoner revealed that it was just more fuel to the fire for 2024.

“I’ve been really proud of each year”

Whilst Yee admits coming up just short in the Grand Final has been tough, he pointed out in an interview with Adam Leitch at Super League Triathlon that success in the series was almost a secondary goal in each of those years.

“For me, I’ve been really proud of each year that I’ve done. Each year there have been three really distinct goals that have superseded the series in essence.

“In 2021 that was the Olympic Games, in 2022 it was the Commonwealth Games and this year it was Paris and the qualification for next year’s Olympics so I’ve kind of gone all in on those three.” 

Of course, Yee’s success in his stated goals are unmatched, with last year’s statement win at the Paris Olympic Test Event a great combination of strength and class that demonstrated what the Brit is all about.

Progress of paramount importance

Reflecting on losing out on World Championship title on the final day of racing in Abu Dhabi (2022) and Pontevedra (2023), Yee said that whilst it was disappointing, it also excited him too.

“Unfortunately I’ve fallen short each time when it’s come to the final and sometimes it’s okay to fail. It’s not even failing I would say, it’s just not succeeding and you’ve got to learn that you have to keep progressing and for me that’s what I love doing.

“To meet at the end of the year with my coaches and all my other support staff and say there’s a lot we can still do is really exciting to me, it’s not intimidating so I think that’s really cool.” 

With the combination of the Paris Test Event win and the Grand Final setback in 2023, there’s no doubt that Yee will have raised his game another level this year, with a great race in the French capital this July to look forward to as a result.