Alex Yee has really taken triathlon mainstream in the UK in 2024, and he raised things a further level on Wednesday by claiming a prestigious sports award.
The brilliant 26-year-old wowed a nation – along with millions of fans more around the world – when he produced that epic final surge to Olympics gold at Paris 2024 back on July 31. His victory over gallant Kiwi Hayden Wilde was one of THE moments of the Games.
Three months later Alex was again hitting the headlines when he became World Champion for the first time after clinching the title at the WTCS Grand Final in Torremolinos. It’s been quite a 12 months for the young Londoner.
The plaudits quite rightly have been flooding in for this incredible sporting talent, and another one arrived on Wednesday when he was named the SJA Sportsman of the Year for 2024 – an award voted for by the SJA (Sports Journalists’ Association) – the biggest organisation of its kind in the world, made up of over 900 sports media professionals.
Yee follows in footsteps of legends
The event has a prestigious 75-year history and previous winners include David Beckham, Lewis Hamilton, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Emma Raducanu, Torvill and Dean, and the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning England team.
Yee’s honour was just one of the British Sports Awards, which date back to 1949. The Sportswoman of the Year award was claimed by Britain’s Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson.
Alex accepted his award live on major UK TV network Sky Sports, and when hearing of all those incredible past winners, he admitted: “It’s absolutely crazy to hear so many sporting icons of my youth that I grew up watching and was inspired by. So to be able to be in that position, it’s pretty bonkers to be honest so I’m really really proud to have been given this – and yeah, what a massive honour.”
SPOTY next for Alex Yee?
In a year where Yee has won so much and inspired so many with his exploits, there is of course one more major award that he could be in the running for – at least we very much hope so. That is the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year award (SPOTY).
The winner of that award will be announced at a glittering ceremony on Sunday December 15, and before that a six-person shortlist will be revealed.
Triathlon has already come close to winning that iconic prize once – when double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee finished second behind tennis great Andy Murray in 2016.
Laura Siddall: 10 things I’ve learned from my professional triathlon career
