I was bribed into starting swimming with the promise of sweets and by being told that you can win medals. My mum had given me a bag of medals which she had won when she was young, so the idea of winning medals was very exciting. – Alistair Brownlee
I did my first cross country race when I was about 10 and absolutely loved it. I wasn’t particularly good, so I didn’t just carry on because I was good, but it just really appealed to me. – Alistair Brownlee
The run’s the business end of a triathlon: it’s where you win or lose the race. I like to get out very hard, make other people hurt sometimes, and other times leave it to the last kilometre and really win the race there. – Alistair Brownlee
I wanted to be an endurance athlete from a young age. I remember being in a careers class at school and saying I wanted to be a professional athlete and the teacher replying, ‘You’re not going to make it; it’s not possible.’ – Alistair Brownlee
Triathletes can push themselves quite hard, and I have seen people collapse on a barrier or pass out on a bike. – Alistair Brownlee
It’s better to train for 4-5 hours a week than to do ten hours one week then nothing for two weeks. It helps your body adapt and also maintains your fitness. – Alistair Brownlee
I was lucky enough to go to a school which gave flexibility around education and sport. We had a 1-hour, 30-minute lunch break, and were able to train during this time. – Alistair Brownlee
I don’t know whether endurance sports attract obsessional people, or training for endurance sports makes people obsessional… it’s the chicken and the egg. – Alistair Brownlee
My first event was in Nottingham, aged 11, and the prize was a bike. I thought, ‘Wow.’ I had no idea what to wear. I think I did it in swimming trunks, then just put on a T-shirt and shoes for the bike part. Triathlons felt exotic. There was a technical and tactical aspect to it as well as the endurance challenge. I was hooked. – Alistair Brownlee
We are quite different: I’m relaxed, and I get ready for races really late, whereas Jonny is really organised and punctual. I like to lead from the front in the run, whereas Jonny might hold back. Maybe it’s because I’m the older brother, but I don’t think there is a mental block that stops Jonny doing the same. I just think I’m a bit more gung-ho. – Alistair Brownlee
The best thing about having your brother in the same sport as you means you can go out and train together every day, and we can push each other on. That’s something many of our rivals don’t have when training day in day out. – Alistair Brownlee
Schools are really, really important. It gives you access to every kid in the country. It gives you a massive pool of people to see who might be talented at different sports. It allows kids to try sports. Kids can be inspired all they want, but if they can’t go out and try a sport, then it’s no good. – Alistair Brownlee
We’re proud Yorkshiremen: we grew up fell running, and we still do it whenever we can. I did my first fell race when I was 11. It was a Tuesday night race called the Bunny Run, on a windswept moor above Haworth, and the prize was a chocolate egg. – Alistair Brownlee
Triathlon is a sport where the legacy is obvious. Anyone can do it; there are loads you can do. It is a massive participation sport. You can do it as a challenge, for charity or whatever. I believe it will continue to grow, and I will look forward to that happening. – Alistair Brownlee
I’m a Conservative. I don’t believe there should be too many rules. There should be lower taxes. – Alistair Brownlee
The great thing about running is that you can get away to your own thoughts and get in a little bubble. – Alistair Brownlee
London 2012 was the toughest time in our relationship but also the best. Things could get fractious – we were both competing for gold – but standing next to my brother on the start line for a home Olympics was so special. I remember saying: ‘Let’s go.’ – Alistair Brownlee
I did a term at Cambridge University studying medicine, so I could potentially have followed in Mum and Dad’s footsteps and become a doctor. – Alistair Brownlee
It’s good to put on some lube under your wetsuit, so I tend to use a lot of baby oil on my arms and legs. It stops you chafing and helps you get your wetsuit off after the swim. – Alistair Brownlee
Rio was always going to be on the schedule for me, whether I had won in London or not. Triathlon is one of those sports where the Olympics is always the most important and the most interesting race, and I always wanted to have a crack at Rio and defend my title. – Alistair Brownlee
I knew I wanted to be a professional triathlete, but I didn’t know it was possible until I won the junior champs. My dad said I should give Cambridge a go to see if I could do both, but it was only ever a trial. – Alistair Brownlee
When you ride fast and then rest for a bit, it causes a spike in your heart rate and helps your body deal with lactic acid. But you don’t need to make it too complicated. Yorkshire is perfect because the hills work as intervals – you ride up them hard and then recover before the next one. Or you can just sprint to the next tree or lamppost. – Alistair Brownlee
My school career was absolutely crucial to me. As an endurance athlete, some of the most important years are maybe when you are 16, 17, and 18. For me, getting that right was very important, and my school allowed me to do that. – Alistair Brownlee
