It was the celebration heard around the world, and it again put triathlon in the headlines again as Alex Yee claimed another brilliant victory.
It’s been an incredible few weeks for the British ace, who became a global superstar on July 31 when he beat great rival Hayden Wilde in that epic finish to claim triathlon gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The moments after Yee had produced that final astonishing surge to catch and pass Wilde saw the pair sat together on the blue carpet, drinking in what they had just achieved. It was sporting drama, and sportsmanship, par excellence.
Both men were hailed in the aftermath for the respect with which their rivalry has played out in recent years as they have taken short-course racing to new heights.
Yee vs Wilde an epic rivalry
It is looking at Yee vs Wilde through that prism which perhaps allows you understand better the publicity which followed Alex’s superb victory at supertri Boston on Sunday. Again sprinting away from Wilde in the closing stages, but this time crossing the line with that arms-folded celebration.
Many mainstream outlets gave the moment plenty of coverage, with some even referencing comments from social media users who criticised Yee, in their headlines.
On the positive side, the celebration again added further fuel to that great Yee vs Wilde rivalry (they are due to meet again in Chicago this weekend), and it gained significant publicity for a sport which sadly is a mainstream afterthought for well over three out of every four years.
Alex on supertri Boston
So what did Yee himself have to say about that moment? Why had he done it? And who was he copying?
In terms of the last question, our thoughts immediately were around two football stars – Real Madrid and France great Kylian Mbappe and Cole Palmer of Chelsea and England. Both have produced versions of it themselves, and Yee referenced them both in a post on his Instagram account following the race. He also referenced that desire to put on a show.
Alex wrote: “We live for this sport..
“After the Olympics I’ve ridden a rollercoaster. Incredible highs but also some lows too.. So to be able to race these guys again was pure excitement. We race fiercely and competitively but at the end of the day we all are mates and want to put on a show for you.
“Thanks Boston!
Never change, Vince
The other thing about Instagram posts, sometimes the comments are where the hidden gold is. Never more than in this case.
Among them were a response from French great Vincent Luis, an absolute beauty.
He wrote, quite simply: “I really wanted to do that celebration but I just don’t win races anymore 😭 😂”
