“I’ve had an incredible career. It’s been nearly 30 years long and I’ve won more than I ever thought I’d ever achieve. It’s time to move on because I wouldn’t be doing myself justice by doing it half-heartedly.”
Those were the words of triathlete Jonny Brownlee, who announced his retirement from professional sport on Friday, aged 36.
Now the Olympian is taking a step back from the starting line, former coaches, teachers and those inspired by his success have spoken about his legacy.
The younger Brownlee brother is a six-time world champion, and won gold, silver and bronze medals from the Olympic Games.
He and older brother Alistair, who twice won Olympic triathlon gold, grew up in the Leeds suburb of Horsforth, and both still live locally.
They were members of several sports clubs as children, including Bingley Harriers, and still have strong relationships with those they met there.
Their impact on triathlon, both locally, and beyond, can still be felt today, according to swimming teacher and the pair’s former coach Coz Tantrum.
“They’ve got Yorkshire heart and they’ve got Yorkshire grit,” she said.
Tantrum coached Jonny and Alistair from the ages of 11 and 13 respectively, when they joined the City of Bradford swimming club. Their early lessons in the pool were at Aireborough Leisure Centre in Guiseley.
Even from a young age, the brothers were committed to all three disciplines of the triathlon, Tantrum explained, although Jonny was the more “relaxed” of the pair.
“I’d finish the session and they’d literally sprint out of the pool and into the changing rooms.
“You’d see them outside handing the kit off to their parents and off they’d go, and they’d be running home or biking home.”
Tantrum continued to coach the brothers until December last year, and witnessed first-hand their many successes and how they pushed each other, and the sport, on.
“They’ve got a massive amount of loyalty towards each other,” she said.
For her, this was encapsulated when, in 2016, Alistair helped an exhausted Jonny over the line at the Triathlon World Series in Mexico.
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