Search
shop

Alex Yee pays tribute to ‘hero’ team-mates for setting up golden day

Alex Yee delivered in style but his teammates also played a pivotal role in his Commonwealth Games gold medal
News Director
Last updated -

Alex Yee may have collected the triathlon gold medal at Friday’s 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, but he was quick to hand huge credit to England team-mates Sam Dickinson and Dan Dixon.

“They were immense,” said Yee in the immediate aftermath of his epic victory over great rival Hayden Wilde in Birmingham.

“Those guys worked super-hard for me. Sam sacrificed his race for me on the bike and I was really appreciative of what he was doing.

“I’m just so pleased that I could honour that by getting the win.”

Advertisement

Yee’s clear focus

Dixon, the 20-year-old who come in as first reserve for Team England once Jonny Brownlee was ruled out, came out of the water in fourth and then focused on the task in hand as the chase group formed to try and reel in the front three, which included Kiwi star Wilde.

He explained: “The main thing is we came here for a medal as a team and we got it. That was absolutely the key goal.

“It’s sad for Jonny obviously that he wasn’t able to attend. But I’m really glad that we could make it worth it and put on a great show for everyone here.

“All three of us ended up in the bulk of the chase pack and the aim was to bring Alex towards the front as much as possible. We did a cracking job in the end. It was great.”

Dream come true

Echoing Yee’s comments, and with a smile and a nod towards Dickinson who was stood alongside him, Dixon added: “This man here was a hero on the bike. He was unbelievable.”

It was also a first Commonwealth Games for Dickinson, and the 25-year-old was visibly emotional as the achievement sunk in.

“I’m just over the moon to be competing at the first event of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Sam Dickinson of Team England in action at the 2022 Commonwealth Games triathlon in Birmingham (Pic - World Triathlon).
Sam Dickinson came in for high praise (Pic – World Triathlon).

“I started triathlon after seeing Alistair [Brownlee] winning Olympic gold in London in 2012 so to be here competing 10 years later at the Commonwealth Games is a dream come true.

“When you’ve got an athlete like Alex Yee who can run as fast as he can, we all knew our job was to make it happen.”

Reeling in Wilde

But that meant an incredible amount of work was required and Dickinson stepped up to the plate in style.

He explained: “On the bike we saw Hayden was 20 seconds up the road but let’s be absolutely honest, we came here for gold.

“I gave it absolutely everything on that bike, just to get him as close as possible. And I was in a world of pain on the run, but when I was running down that last k and a couple of my mates on the course told me we’d done it, you just can’t describe the elation.

“I’m so happy for the guy, we’ve been racing together since juniors and for him to win gold on national television and hopefully inspiring the next generation, that was unreal.”

“We didn’t know about Hayden’s penalty but that didn’t change anything. My job was to empty the tank and get Alex as close as possible to the front. We knew he had a shot if he was anywhere near.”

And just to amplify the intensity there was a rare spectator at a Dickinson race, to see history being made: “My Mum doesn’t ever get to come to see me race but she was in the grandstand today and it’s pretty emotional.”

Indeed the incredible atmosphere at Sutton Park inspired all of the England trio, with Dixon admitting: “The crowds were absolutely unbelievable. I’ve never experienced anything like it.

“It was absolute magic running around, even warming up, there’s just been amazing support around for the team.”

Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
TRI247 Wahoo KICKR RUN treadmill review
Wahoo KICKR RUN treadmill review – can Wahoo do for treadmill running what they did for indoor cycling?
Challenge Cesenatico 2024 debut - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
5 ways to improve your FTP – Expert tips to level up your cycling
sumarpo triathlon swimming wetsuit
Wetsuit buying guide – How to choose the best wetsuit for triathlon, open water swimming, SwimRun and cold water
Challenge Almere-Amsterdam long distance triathlon bike course
How to cycle in a head wind – tips for riding your bike in windy conditions
latest News
Jonny and Alistair Brownlee Ask AL AI
Triathlon’s Brownlee brothers made each other great with love and war philosophy which drove them to Olympic glory
Lucy Gossage finish line wall Montane Winter Spine Race 2025 [Photo credit: Wild Aperture Photography / The Spine Race]
How one key piece of triathlon advice helped Lucy Gossage win Britain’s most BRUTAL ultrarunning race
Paris 2024 Olympics - Cassandre Beaugrand wins
Olympic champion targets 5k test and says triathlon in February ‘makes no sense to me’
IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga 2024 - Matt Hanson finish
US triathlon star is ignoring ‘armchair quarterbacks’ as he plots IRONMAN Pro Series bid
Beth Potter (GBR) won the 2024 supertri E World Triathlon Championships.
Blockbuster triathlon showdown confirmed as Beth Potter returns to defend Supertri E world title
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...