New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS) Olympic and World triathlon champion Jonny Brownlee has announced his retirement from the sport at 36, the same age as his elder brother Alister Brownlee hung up his boots.
The six-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist in the mixed team event, Brownlee, said that he was contemplating retirement for a while before confirming it now.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I’ve won more than I ever thought I’d ever achieve,” Jonny said, as quoted by BBC Sport. “One thing I’m really proud of is we full-on committed to winning Olympic medals and delivering our best performance. And now I just don’t think I can do that anymore. It’s over for professional sport, but I don’t think you ever truly stop.”
Jonny won an individual bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, an individual silver at the 2016 Rio before finally clinching a mixed relay gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games. The Briton said that the birth of his child gave him clarity over his retirement decision.
“I don’t think I can have that commitment because of how life is. He’s my priority now, my family, but also with my body as well,” said Brownlee. “The thought of missing a training session used to be the worst thing in the world, whereas now, if Freddie is ill or needs me, then without question I do that.”
He also stated that he fears getting injured now as he won’t be able to carry his 10-month-old son in his arms. “I used to have absolutely no fear with racing, I used to dive into corners on my bike at 60kph and not care,” he said.
“If I hit that corner and crash, then I can’t hold Freddie for five to six weeks if I have got a broken wrist. I was asking if that was really worth it anymore.”
The 36-year-old reflected on his journey, calling the London 2012 some he was “incredibly proud of”, while also highlighting the 2016 World Series Triathlon race in Mexico, where he nearly collapsed in the heat but was carried to the finishing line in second place by his elder brother.
“To deliver those medals [in 2012] was something I’m incredibly proud of. The first time racing in Leeds kind of symbolised everything, the whole journey,” said Brownlee.
“The fact that there was a World Series in Leeds was just unthinkable when we started triathlon, and then to come into the Millennium Square for the first time was one of the proudest moments of my life and something I’ll never forget.
He called that the 2016 race, which annoyed him. “It really annoyed me at the start; I’ve got multiple Olympic medals, World Championships, and that got remembered,” said Jonny.
“Quite often now people say, ‘ Which one are you? Are you the one who did the carrying or the one who got carried? So yeah, it does grate me a little bit,” he added.
–IANS
