Two-time Olympic champion Brownlee ends triathlon career

Triathlete Alistair Brownlee (36) has ended his career. The Englishman won gold medals at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

Brownlee also shot to fame with an iconic moment during a 2016 World Cup match in Mexico. His brother Jonny Brownlee was on his way to victory, but was overcome by the heat shortly before the finish.

Alistair then showed up, saved his brother from falling and helped him cross the finish line. The images went all over the world:

Alistair Brownlee became world champion twice, in 2009 and 2011, and won European Championship gold four times. He is the only triathlete ever to become junior world champion, under-23 world champion, world champion, European champion and Olympic champion.

At his first Olympic title in London, his brother Jonny came third, four years later in Rio Jonny won silver behind Alistair. He was unable to qualify for the Games in Tokyo due to an ankle injury.

“Triathlon has shaped my life,” Brownlee writes when announcing his retirement from X. “I have been able to realize the dreams I had as a child and achieved more than I ever dared to hope for.”