“We better not f** this up”: Alistair Brownlee shares the message that inspired Olympic triathlon glory

Olympic Day this week was a special moment for Alistair Brownlee, bringing back emotional memories of his two golds at the Games.

But Brownlee, who won his medals in 2012 and 2016, also revealed that it sparked memories of the moment he realised “pressure is a privilege” – a mantra he still lives by today.

And all it dates back to a chat with brother Jonny on the eve of the London Games, where the Brownlees would become national icons.

What Alistair said to Jonny

Posting on his Instagram, Alistair wrote: “Olympic Day reminded me of a moment from the night before the London 2012. Jonny and I were sat in our hotel watching TV.

“Reporters were in Hyde Park, chatting to fans who’d travelled miles to be there, some waving homemade signs, some holding flags with our names on them.

“Jonny turned to me and said, “We better not f** this up.”

“It made me laugh, but it also hit me. The pressure wasn’t just about us anymore. It was about everyone who had supported us and believed in what we were trying to do.”

“That kind of pressure can feel overwhelming. But it can also lift you, if you let it.

“My coach Malcolm once said: ‘Pressure is a privilege.’ And it’s stuck with me ever since. You only feel pressure when you’ve done something to earn it, when people care what happens next.”

Alistair announced his retirement from triathlon in November 2024 after a glittering career in which he became the only male athlete to do a grand slam of Olympic, World and continental titles.

The mindset is the same

But he is still involved the sport, launching his own line of gels earlier this year, and says he still lives by the same motto even though he is no longer competing.

Brownless said: “Whether it’s building @truefuels, working with other athletes, or chasing new challenges, that same feeling is still there. The stakes may look different, but the mindset is the same.

“If you or anyone else cares about the outcome, it means it matters. That’s something I’ll never take for granted.”

Olympic Day is a global celebration of sport which takes place on 23 June each year to commemorate the day the International Olympic Committee was founded in 1894 – the birth of the modern Games.