It’s exam results time – and Olympic legend Alistair Brownlee nails the careers advice

In the UK right now students are getting their A-level results and planning out their futures.

A record number got into their first-choice university this year but none other than double Olympic triathlon gold medallist Alistair Brownlee has some timely advice for those who may be weighing up their options.

He famously decided to focus on triathlon rather than medicine at Cambridge and went on to have an unmatched career in swim, bike and run.

Following his dream

Writing on Instagram he said: “Sometimes the best paths aren’t obvious until you start walking them…

“This time of year always takes me back to being 18, getting my exam results, and thinking I had life mapped out.

“I enjoyed my studies and worked hard towards my A-levels. But my real dream was to be a triathlete. I got the grades I needed and was about to start studying medicine at Cambridge, an incredible opportunity. At the same time, triathlon was becoming a bigger part of my life. In September, I won the World Junior Championships and suddenly I started to think I might be good enough to focus on sport.

“I was in a real quandary and wasn’t sure if I should start studying at university. My dad gave me a great bit of advice: ‘You’ve got an amazing opportunity and you would be crazy to turn it down without even experiencing it.’

‘Give it everything’

Talking in more detail about the life-changing decision, he added: “I lasted a few months at Cambridge before realising I needed to be back in Leeds, training full-time, if I wanted to give myself the best chance of seeing how far I could go in the sport. It was a huge risk. It made no sense on paper. But it was the right decision for me, and I’m glad I did try studying medicine because turning away from one great opportunity made me really determined to be the best athlete I could be.”

The rest of course is history. Alistair would go on to dominate the sport of triathlon alongside his brother Jonny.

They won gold and bronze respectively in front of the biggest triathlon crown ever assembled at the London Olympics in 2012 and Alistair became the first – and still the only – person to defend that title when he triumphed in Rio four years later.

He continued: “It’s easy to think exam results will define your future. They’re important. But, whatever you do next, hard work, focus and resilience will always be the things that give you the best chance of success.

“If you’re getting your results this week or next and you’re not sure where they’ll take you, that’s okay.

“Sometimes the best paths aren’t obvious until you start walking them. But whichever path you choose, give it everything you’ve got.”