Alex Yee secures final Team GB spot for Tokyo Olympics
Alex Yee has secured the final spot in Team GB's triathlon team for Tokyo 2020. Here's what you need to know.
Alex Yee has secured the second and final men’s triathlon spot for Team GB ahead of Tokyo 2020, the British Olympic Association has confirmed.
Yee joins two-time Olympic medallist Jonny Brownlee, Olympic bronze medallist Vicky Holland and debutants Jess Learmonth and Georgia Taylor-Brown.
Reacting to the selection, the 23-year-old said: “I know it’s a cliché, but I’m over the moon. I was massively inspired after watching London 2012 in my home city, and now to be selected to represent Team GB after the delay, covid and the challenges everyone has been through, I am delighted.”
The news comes just over a week after Yee won his first ever World Series race in Leeds, finishing ahead of USA’s Morgan Pearson and Belgium’s Marten van Riel who rounded out the podium.
Two-time Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee misses out after battling with an ankle injury and being disqualified in Leeds for ‘ducking’ USA’s Chase McQueen on the swim.
Team GB had been hoping to gain three men’s qualifying spots for the Games but faced a battle to secure that final spot, with the disrupted season and lack of racing not making things easy. Tom Bishop looked to be the best hope, taking on the task to race five races in five weeks on three continents.
Despite his valiant efforts, Bishop was unable to acquire enough qualifying points, leaving two spots in the men’s team.
Known for his running prowess, Yee will be going to the Olympics in fine form off the back of that win in Leeds and a fourth-placed finish in Yokohama in May.
Those results followed a fifth-placed finish at World Triathlon Hamburg last year and second at his debut World Series race in Abu Dhabi the year before.
British Triathlon’s Performance Director and Team GB’s triathlon Team Leader, Mike Cavendish, said: “I want to congratulate Alex not only on his selection but for his excellent performances in 2021. It’s been great to see him taking a step up and I know he’ll be in a strong position on the start line.
“Alex joins a team that is full of potential and our focus now turns to the vital heat preparation that is needed for the races in Tokyo.”
The men’s Olympic triathlon race will take place on Monday 26 July at 10:30pm (6:30am local time), while the women’s race will take place on Tuesday 27 July at 10:30pm (6:30am local time).
The mixed relay race will be held on Saturday 31 July at 11:30pm (7:30am local time).
Top image credit: World Triathlon/Tommy Zaferes
Rob Slade
