Brownlee to make decision on Olympic title defence later this year

Alistair Brownlee will make a decision on another Olympic triathlon title defence later this year, writes James Toney on the Gold Coast.

Brownlee, still nursing the effects of an untimely calf injury, joined forces with brother Jonny, Vicky Holland and Jess Learmonth as England finished second in the Commonwealth Games team event behind hosts Australia.

It’s been a difficult trip Down Under for the 29-year old, who was looking to defend the individual and team gold medals he won four years ago in Glasgow.

He will compete in a long distance event next week before switching his focus to triathlon’s World Series, with his home race in Leeds the main priority for the season.

But the countdown is now on for deciding his future in the sport.

“The chances are this is my last Commonwealth Games because four years time is a long way away but I’m really not sure about the Olympics yet,” he said.

“I’m going to make a decision at the end of this year. Having a team event like this in Tokyo is a genuine incentive to carry on, it’s a really good shot at a medal and Great Britain are absolutely going to be in the hunt for gold in Tokyo, whoever lines up.

“I just have to decide how physically good I can be to try and defend my title again.

“I’ve put a personal timeline on it, I feel the end of this year is the right time to make that call. If you are going to commit to an Olympics, you have to do it 18 months out. It takes so much preparation and focus and lots of emotional and physical energy too.”

Winning is a habit for Brownlee and he admitted he found it tough lining up on the Gold Coast knowing he wasn’t firing on all cylinders.

However, after carrying the flag for England in the opening ceremony, he insists he was right not to withdraw.

“I’m regretting getting injured but I don’t regret competing,” he added.

“Two months ago I was in a brilliant position to come here and defend my title. After struggling with my hip injury last year I was so happy with how everything was going, so I was completely gutted when the injury happened.

“It’s been a very tough month, waking up every day and thinking about my calf. It was hard to be on the start line knowing I probably wasn’t going to win, that was a tough thing to take.

“It’s nice to get a medal to show for everything. Australia were a different class but we worked hard for that silver. We would have been very disappointed if we hadn’t made that podium.”

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