Just last weekend he finished in a rock-solid third position at the PTO T100 Grand Final in Dubai – his best performance in what was otherwise mostly a difficult season – but two-time Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee is quitting as a professional athlete. The Brit just announced his immediate retirement.
“Triathlon has profoundly shaped my life; I have dedicated nearly half of it to being a professional athlete, fulfilling my childhood dream and achieving far more than I ever dared to imagine. Why now? It feels right. I am happy and content, eager for what lies ahead. I find myself smiling because it happened, rather than crying because it’s over – to paraphrase Dr. Seuss.”
Brownlee now, he says, is especially looking forward to ‘a slightly slower pace of life’. “Yet not too slow. There’s an exciting array of events, challenges, and adventures awaiting me – things I’ve always wanted to have a crack at but haven’t had the chance to pursue. For me, sport has always been a personal journey of exploration, and I’m excited to try some new challenges.”
“I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you for your contributions, no matter how small you may believe they are. Your support means the world to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
