Tokyo Olympics: Team claim GOLD in the mixed triathlon relay

Team GB win GOLD in the mixed triathlon relay after incredible late run from Alex Yee wraps up victory and sees off late United States surge as Jonny Brownlee FINALLY becomes Olympic champion

  • Team GB were victorious in the mixed triathlon relay as they pipped USA to gold 
  • Alex Yee wrapped up the top podium place to beat the Americans by 14 seconds 
  • It ensures Jonny Brownlee will win his first Olympic gold to join his brother 

On a gloriously sunny morning, Jonny Brownlee stepped out of a shadow and into a golden glow. It has taken an awful lot of swimming, cycling and running to get to this point, but finally the little brother joined the family business of winning Olympic titles.

It wasn’t the sort of individual crown won twice by his elder sibling Alistair, but who cares? What a marvellous tale in a Games that has already thrown up its share.

Bronze at London 2012, silver in Rio de Janeiro four years later, and here the succession dream appeared to be done when he was fifth in the individual. But back he stormed in the team relay on Saturday morning, part of a fabulous four with Jess Learmonth, Georgia Taylor-Brown and Alex Yee.

Team GB won gold in the mixed triathlon relay after a superb effort from Alex Yee in Tokyo

He ensured Britain's team of Jonny Brownlee (L), Jessica Learmonth (C) and Georgia Taylor-Brown (R) won by 14 seconds ahead of the USA

He ensured Britain’s team of Jonny Brownlee (L), Jessica Learmonth (C) and Georgia Taylor-Brown (R) won by 14 seconds ahead of the USA

With Yee and Taylor-Brown having won silver medals across the past week, they were always favourites to hit the top step. And with Brownlee breaking the pack on his run, there were only sporadic moments late on when it looked as if they might have to settle for a lesser shade of metal.

Brief moments. Irrelevant moments. When it was all done, with Yee concluding the final run with 14 seconds of daylight to the Americans in silver, Brownlee was the first to wrap him in a hug.

At 31, Brownlee will now call it a day at this level of competition. A brilliant finale and one of the most heartening sights of these Olympics.

Brownlee said: ‘Olympics? Completed it. It feels absolutely amazing. It’s my third Olympics and I’ve finally got gold.’

Jonny Brownlee joked he had 'completed' the Olympics after finally securing a gold medal

Jonny Brownlee joked he had ‘completed’ the Olympics after finally securing a gold medal 

Learmonth put the quartet on a good path, leading through both the 300m swim and the 6.8km ride. Despite the run being her lesser suit, Learmonth was only two seconds back in third when she tagged in Jonny Brownlee.

He was in the cluster of four through the swim and briefly lost speed when his foot slipped from his pedal after the transition to the bike. But he was embedded with the US, Germany and the Netherlands and then snatched an early lead in the run. He was busting a gut to get to that top step and by the time he handed over to Georgia Taylor-Brown he had earned a nine-second lead. A huge effort.

With Taylor-Brown and Yee silver medallists in the individual events, Britain held all the best cards. The lead grew substantially through Taylor-Brown’s ride, up to 23sec at one stage, but by the time she switched to trainers it was down to 11. Given the strength of her run, it was a healthy lead, but a minor downturn in momentum.

Yee collapses to the ground after crossing the finish line as he is congratulated by team-mates

Yee collapses to the ground after crossing the finish line as he is congratulated by team-mates

She stretched it back out to 21, allowing Yee some breathing room. He was 17 seconds clear getting on his bike, but the pursuit was led by the world No 1 Vincent Luis of France and the American Morgan Pearson. They could work as a team, sharing the load, but Yee was out on his own.

One metre at a time, they reeled him in, and with one lap of the circuit remaining Luis moved alongside. Yee and Luis were effectively even going to the transition, and as an international grade runner, Yee still had a trick to play, but Pearson and Luis are quick. Very quick. It was a fight for gold.

Yee pulled it out to a 50m lead at the end of the first lap of the run, and that is a big lead in this reduced format. Luis and Pearson attacked and pushed, but the latter couldn’t do it. He took silver, Luis had bronze. Britain, and Brownlee, had gold.  

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