Lewisham-born Alex Yee crowned SJA Sportsman of the Year

Triathlete Alex Yee has been crowned British Sportsman of the Year by the Sports Journalist Association.

Lewisham-born Yee enjoyed a historic 2024, becoming just the second person in the 15-year history of the triathlon to be crowned World Champion and win Olympic Gold in the same year.

The 26-year-old reached his first milestone of a groundbreaking twelve months at the Paris Olympic Games, lodging the race of his life to recover a ten-second deficit in the final lap of the men's triathlon to claim the Olympic title.

Five days after snatching gold, Yee secured his second medal of the games, winning bronze in the mixed relay alongside Georgia Taylor-Brown, Sam Dickinson and Beth Potter.

After Paris 2024, Yee, who began to carve his career at Crystal Palace Triathlon Club as a seven-year-old, continued his remarkable year and became World Champion for the first time.

Claiming Sportsman of the Year, the lifelong Crystal Palace fan beat Jude Bellingham, Joe Root, Alfie Hewett, Lando Norris, Tom Piddock and Luke Littler to the award.

In his acceptance speech on Sky Sports, the Olympic Closing Ceremony Flagbearer said: "To be in this position, it’s pretty bonkers, to be honest. I’m really proud to have been given this – and yeah, what a massive honour.”