Alistair Brownlee has won millions of fans worldwide with his incredible triathlon exploits – and we can include among them some of the greatest competitors ever to toe the line. High on the list is two-time IRONMAN World Champion and supertri co-founder Chris McCormack.
On Thursday the news broke that the incredible Alistair era was coming to an end when he announced his retirement from elite competition. The two-time Olympic champion and legend of the sport will race no more.
McCormack described it as a “massive” moment for the sport, and proceeded to put into context what the British superstar has meant for swim/bike/run for what is now approaching two decades.
Brownlee ‘on another level’ – Macca
He told TRI247: “Alistair, in my opinion, is the most exciting athlete I’ve ever witnessed in my 40 years involved in the sport. The way he was across all three disciplines was one thing, with his racing brain and aggressive racing nature. His presence as an athlete was intimidating both on and off the course, and the results are unparalleled.
“Dual Olympic champion, Commonwealth Games champion, dual world champion. Anyone who was around and saw the era of Alistair Brownlee would know that there were so many more races than these where he just was on another level.”
McCormack watched avidly as Brownlee rose to incredible heights, topped by that unforgettable London day in 2012 where he realised the hopes and dreams of a nation by bringing home Olympic gold.
“It’s an amazing thing, from my perspective, to see him come along as a young athlete in 2008, 12th at the Olympics in Beijing, that complete dominance in 2009, and then go on to win in London – in my opinion, the greatest Olympic triathlon event we’ve ever witnessed.
“To do that in front of your home crowd, with all that expectation on your shoulders, it speaks testament for the type of athlete he is and the impact he’s had on this sport.”
Brownlee leaves a sport in which the level of competition at the top end is spectacular, and McCormack believes that is down in no small part to the way Alistair rose to heights never seen before.
How Alistair changed the game
“It’s a changing of the guard, but I think the the level of competition in the sport right now is a product of his sheer dominance and the impact he’s made in over two decades of racing. And he changed the game like no athlete I can remember.
“He was an absolute competitor with the heart of a champion, and he brought that DNA into the Bahrain Victorious 13 team culture of excellence.
“His impact in this sport will go beyond triathlon as we know it today, but more so I just think he’ll apply that same expectation in his life after professional sport, and from all accounts that’ll be directed at sport and benefiting the athletes.”
The question now is who can take the baton from Brownlee to drive the sport forward as he once did. McCormack believes it will be virtually impossible.
“There will never be another Alistair Brownlee. I hope to be proven wrong; Alex Yee is definitely making an impact from a medals and race-winning perspective. But from sheer presence as an athlete, no one before or after has had the same sort of impact at that Olympic distance racing as Alistair Brownlee.
“I am proud to call him friend. I wish him all the best.”
