Jonny Brownlee, one half of one of the most iconic pairs of sporting siblings in British Olympic history, has announced his retirement from triathlon at the age of 36.
A three-time Olympic medallist, Jonny and his elder brother Alistair provided a vast array of memorable moments during their time competing with each other.
Here are five of Jonny’s best…
Breakthrough bronze
Jonny Brownlee was just 22 when he took part in his home Olympics in 2012.
On a memorable day in Hyde Park, he overcame a 15-second penalty for mounting his bike a fraction too early to battle back for bronze and join his brother on the podium, with Alistair claiming gold.
“Being on the podium was fantastic and thrilling,” Jonny wrote in The Guardian.
“But to be honest, I wasn't sure what to do. Should I smile? Should I sing? I did try a few words of the national anthem but I'm not someone who shows much emotion on the outside.
“Inside I was trying to absorb everything – the cheering crowds, the anthem, the sight of two British flags rising into the London sky. My internal monologue, though, was not much more than: wow, wow, wow, wow!”
World champion status secured
Just over a fortnight on from his memorable display in Hyde Park, Brownlee was in Sweden surging to victory in the ITU World Triathlon Stockholm race.
Eighth after the swim, Brownlee formed part of the leading group on the bike before surging home on the run to move to the top of the overall standings.
That was where he stayed, with second place in the final event of the 2012 season in Auckland ensuring he followed in his brother’s footsteps as the world champion.
“It’s good to keep the title in the family, it’s pretty special,” he said.
Silver in Rio
Brownlee upgraded his bronze from London to silver in Rio in a brilliant race which saw the British brothers secure a one-two.
The pair asserted their dominance over the field but Jonny was left to regret telling his brother to ‘relax’ around 6km into the run.
Alistair pushed on, securing back-to-back golds, with Jonny coming home six seconds behind him for silver.
Speaking in 2023, Jonny said: “I wish I had never shown any weakness, because the months before I had been dropping Alistair in training and running faster than him, but I should have just never shown him any weakness.
“If I could go back and do it again, I would have kept my poker face on.”
Third time lucky
Brownlee turned up at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics determined to complete his set and did so with gold in the mixed relay.
He had finished fifth in the individual race and helped build Britain’s lead in the relay, taking on the second leg after a strong start from Jess Learmonth.
Brownlee handed over to Georgia Taylor-Brown before Alex Yee sealed the deal as the quartet earned Team GB’s seventh gold in Japan.
"The Olympics? I've completed it," said a jubilant Brownlee. "It feels absolutely amazing.”
Brothers in arms
Mention the Brownlee brothers and this might be the first thing that comes to mind for most.
The setting was Cozumel, Mexico, in the final race of the 2016 World Triathlon Series.
The punishing heat was taking its toll on Jonny, who needed to win the race to stand a chance of landing the overall title and led heading into the home straight before wobbling unsteadily across the course.
He was initially supported by a volunteer at a water station before Alistair, well set himself in third, swooped in to carry his brother across the line.
Alistair even pushed Jonny across the finish line and though Mario Mola claimed the title, the image of brotherly love and support has become defining for both – even if Alistair couldn’t resist a quip.
"I wish the flippin' idiot had paced it right and crossed the finish line first,” he said, before adding: “It was a natural human reaction. I'd have done the same thing for anyone in that position."