The Brownlee moment that inspired Alex Yee to Olympic triathlon gold

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Alex Yee was right behind his good friend and competitor, Hayden Wilde from New Zealand, by 14 seconds. He was about to start the last 2.5km lap of the Olympic triathlon when he heard a familiar voice from the side of Alexandre III bridge. Alistair Brownlee shouted, "Anything is possible, buddy!"

Yee, who was just 14 years old and full of wonder in Hyde Park, witnessed Brownlee's victory at the London 2012 Olympics. He had expressed his desire to continue that legacy in Paris, which will be the first Games in 20 years without a Brownlee brother. Despite consuming carb gels and isotonic drinks during a long endurance race, there is nothing as impactful as the unwavering admiration we have for someone.

“I felt a strong sense of trust,” Yee expressed. “It’s really meaningful when someone shows that level of confidence in you. I work out with Alistair constantly, and he has been a significant influence on my progress. When I first moved to Leeds, I lived with Jonny. They are always there to support me, sending messages before and after my races. Their faith in me is unwavering.”

Yee persisted, staying close behind Wilde in the hot weather, slowly catching up until the Kiwi felt someone right behind him. Wilde had used up all his energy in his sprint and was completely exhausted, confessing that he was drained by the sun in Paris.

Yee overtook him with 200m left in the race, speeding up a bit as he passed by, giving it his all until the very end. Wilde couldn't keep up, and soon they were both lying on the ground at the finish line, trying to catch their breath. Wilde gave Yee a pat on the back. "He's a great guy," Yee said, wearing his Olympic gold medal.

They have competed against each other numerous times in the World Triathlon series, with Yee frequently emerging victorious in a close race. In Tokyo, Yee took home the silver medal while Wilde settled for bronze. Despite Wilde attempting to change tactics and pull ahead of his competitor, the outcome remained unchanged.

"I was struggling from 2-6km during the 10km run," Yee confessed. "I was feeling like the guys behind me were catching up quickly, and I thought maybe second place was the best I could do. But I didn't want to give up on myself. When I had 3km left, I told myself I just wanted to give myself one more opportunity."

The race was not supposed to happen in extreme heat, but it got delayed to Tuesday because of dangerous levels of bacteria in the Seine River. As a result, it started almost two hours later than planned, following the women's race.

Wilde has been living in Spain and waking up at 5am for the last two months to prepare for the early start that never occurred. "It's just how it goes," he said casually. "As elite athletes, we have to adapt to the situation, such as the hot weather. I did feel the effects in the final kilometer."

Yee set an alarm for 4am on Monday, not sure if his Olympic event would happen the next day. He checked his phone and saw a message from his coach saying the race was canceled, so he went back to sleep. But on Wednesday morning, he received another message saying the race was back on.

Just before the race started, there were 56 bikes lined up in the transition zone, but one was missing. Yee was the last one to arrive, he found a spot at the end of the bridge and started getting his things ready. He cleaned each tire with his fingers, then placed his bike in its stand with precision. He treated his trainers delicately, adjusting them slightly before heading back to the athletes' room inside the Grand Palais.

He struggled with feeling like a fraud at the beginning of his career, but in Paris, he exuded confidence as if he belonged there. During the pre-race introductions, Yee stood out by wearing a jacket to keep warm until the last minute, being the only one smiling, and having the look of a champion cyclist ready to tackle a tough mountain climb rather than a swim in the Seine.

Over the last year, he dedicated himself to getting better at swimming and he stayed close to the front swimmers in the race, coming out in 18th place, 27 seconds behind, and fortunately without any stomach issues before the mixed relay. "You have to believe that the organizers will ensure your safety, and I have faith that we will soon find out if that's true," he said with a smile.

He quickly made his first move, passing competitors in the transition area and smoothly jumping onto his bike while slipping his bare feet into white cycling shoes.

The streets had dried up after the chaos of the women's race, where some riders had fallen due to wet patches on the road. Yee took the lead and led a group of 13 riders, with Wilde close behind. As they approached the final three laps, Wilde caught up to the front group, which now consisted of 32 riders. They all reached the transition zone together, creating a crowded and hectic scene.

Yee's friend and teammate Sam Dickinson provided support during the race, cheering as Yee took off in the first kilometer. Despite Wilde's fast pace in the hot weather, Yee managed to stay motivated and ultimately triumph. The power of inspiration is truly remarkable.