Search
shop

‘Pressure makes diamonds’ – Alex Yee on how he kept his cool to add world title to Olympic gold

Olympic champion crowns the perfect season by adding a first world title thanks to another brilliant run to keep the dream alive.
News Director
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

For a while on the bike it looked as if Alex Yee‘s World Championship hoodoo might be about to strike again in Torremolinos.

For the last three years the Brit had gone into the WTCS finale with a strong chance of a maiden world title.

And never more than this time, with the added confidence of having won the biggest race of all with his Olympic gold in that epic race in Paris.

‘All’ he needed to do in Andalucia was finish in the top six. But with an uber-strong breakaway bike group of five athletes – including his title rivals Léo Bergere and Hayden Wilde – having distanced the rest, things suddenly looked in real jeopardy.

But Yee didn’t panic, reset and then used his strongest suit of the run to make the world title a reality as he reeled in three of the five on the run to take third place and overall glory.

Playing to his strengths

Speaking afterwards on the BBC broadcast he said: “That was a hard race and it was definitely exciting! Fair play to Hayden and Léo and the guys at the front, they made it a hell of a race and I’m just proud to be part of that and be a part of this amazing season.”

Asked what put him on the wrong side of the split on the bike, he explained: “Maybe I wasn’t in the best position. I probably just didn’t have the best legs going out of T1. I think Matt Hauser might have unfortunately had a crash and then maybe a little gap went. I was probably a little bit too far back to even be able to react to that.

“And these boys, they’re the strongest in the game and if they go, then, you know, you’re in danger. So I just had to play to my strengths, work as hard as I could on the bike and run as hard as I could.

“We did everything we could [in the chase group], but these guys are so strong. When the motivation goes out of the group, that’s when, you know that me by myself – or anyone by themselves – aren’t going to make a difference.”

‘With hard work, anything can happen’

But he regrouped and wasted little time in moving into the all-important sixth place on the run before whittling down the advantage of those ahead of him and making the finale a little less stressful.

Asked about the pressure he felt, he added: “There’s always going to be pressure within these races, but I think I wanted to treat it as a standalone race and enjoy it. The Olympic Games was the big goal so it was just about coming out here and racing with a smile on my face – pressure makes diamonds!”

Yee becomes only the second man after Kristian Blummenfelt to win a world title in the same year as an Olympic gold – even the great Alistair Brownlee never managed it – and he said: “I’m very proud. This has been something which has evaded me for the last three years and I think this makes it even all the more sweeter.

It’s probably been something that’s haunted me day in, day out.

“I had to just treat it as its own race, as a standalone one and remember why I came here. I wanted to have fun. I wanted to put on a show for everyone. I wanted to put a smile on people’s faces.

“I’m now world champion and I couldn’t be prouder of this season. And hopefully it just shows people that with hard work, anything can happen.”

Alex Yee champagne WTCS Grand Final 2024 Torremolinos photo credit World Triathlon
Another champagne moment for Alex Yee [Photo credit: World Triathlon]
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
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
Hayden Wilde bike supertri Boston 2024 photo credit supertri
Premium10 ways to make your road bike faster and more aero for triathlons
Kristian Blummenfelt photo credit: PTO Canadian Open
PremiumIs your gut health impacting your performance? The untapped potential of good gut health for triathletes
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
PremiumHas triathlon reached peak performance? Tri experts and legends on how much faster triathletes could get
latest News
Anne Haug wins Challenge Roth 2024 [Photo credit: Simon Fischer | Challenge Roth]
Triathlon legend and current world record holder Anne Haug announces her retirement
Lovseth Perterer Sanchez IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
Rising Norwegian star underlines Kona claims and says that’s now the big goal
Vincent Luis San Francisco 49ers tri suit 2025
Short-course triathlon great Vincent Luis is OUT of T100 London
Marquardt Hogenhaug Foley IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
‘World Championship level’ – Marquardt says bike bar was raised at Lake Placid
Solveig Lovseth wins IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025 women’s results: Løvseth shows she’s the real deal and next Norwegian superstar
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

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...