It’s been a tumultuous week for Alistair Brownlee, and it reminded all of us of what is great about triathlon.

The 36-year-old British superstar announced last Thursday morning that he would be retiring from elite competition after a glittering career which brought him two Olympic titles and two World titles as well as a host of other top prizes.

It was a huge story which was covered by a host of mainstream news and sports outlets around the world, showing us once again just how much Alistair brought swim/bike/run to a whole new audience.

It wasn’t just the epic gold medal-winning performances in Rio and London either, it was also that unforgettable moment in Cozumel in 2016 when he and brother Jonny provided probably the most viewed moment in triathlon history.

Alistair Brownlee on retirement reaction

The reaction from the sport of triathlon was also spectacular – with incredible tributes coming in from some of the greatest ever to toe the line. The respect and love for what Alistair achieved on course shone through in every word.

Having taken time to soak in everything that has been said in the last few days, Brownlee himself gave his own reaction on Wednesday, providing a heartfelt message of thanks in a post on his Instagram account.

He wrote: “This past week has been incredibly overwhelming as I announced my retirement from professional triathlon. I’ve been truly touched by the outpouring of messages, stories, and support from around the world. It’s reminded me of how much this sport means to so many people – myself included.”

This isn’t goodbye to triathlon

The great news is that Alistair will clearly still be very much involved in sport and triathlon – just in a different way.

He stressed: “This isn’t goodbye to triathlon; it’s just a change of pace. I can’t wait to find new ways to contribute to this sport that has given me so much.

“Thank you all, it means the world!”