The Physical Performance Show: Alistair Brownlee (MBE), Dual Olympic Triathlon Champion (2012 & 2016); Author Relentless: Secrets of the Sporting Elite
In episode 292 of The Physical Performance Show Brad Beer shares a conversation with Alistair Brownlee (MBE),Dual Olympic Triathlon Champion (2012 & 2016), Author Relentless: Secrets of the Sporting Elite on this Featured Performer episode.
Alistair Brownlee is the Dual Olympic Games Champion (2012 and 2016 Olympic Games) becoming the first Triathlete in history to have defended their title. His younger brother Jonny secured the bronze in London making history as the first brothers in Olympic history for a podium in an individual sport since 1908. Jonny’s silver in 2016 made history again for the brothers becoming the first British brothers to ever finish first and second in an individual event at an Olympic Games. Alistair is the two-time World Series Triathlon Champion, 4X European Champion and 2014 Commonwealth Games Champion. Alistair is the first triathlete to be nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and was bestowed the honour of flagbearer for England in the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Alistair was a candidate for the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes Commission and has since turned his attention to long course racing having picked up Dual Ironman Distance race wins, runner up in the 2019 Ironman 70.3 World Championships and an eye on becoming the first triathlete in history to break the seven-hour barrier for an Ironman distance event with Phoenix’s sub seven-hour attempt upcoming in 2022. Alistair has become an author, publishing “Relentless: Secrets of the Sporting Elite”.
In this episode Alistair discusses “Relentless”, his career highs, lows and learnings, his own reflection on dropping Jonny in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games Triathlon to secure the win. We look at that history making event, the grand final of the World Triathlon series in Cozumel 2016, where Alistair in what many have said redefined their confidence and faith in modern sport by carrying and assisting heat stricken younger brother Jonny across the line.
To listen to Episode 292:
Click the icon to listen to the interview on iTunes or listen using the Soundcloud player below
Listen in as we delve into the following:
- Alistair’s Gravel Trail Race Experience
- His Ankle Injury and Surgery
- Tokyo Olympics and IOC Athlete Representation
- How he Manages to Deliver Expectations
- His participation in electric running
- 2016 Rio Olympics
- Reflecting on 2016 Cozumel race
- Darkest day of Alistair’s career
- What he’s Learning from his Body
- His Recovery Strategy
- ‘Relentless’ His learnings from the book
- Athletes Physiological Gifts
- Alistair’s Psychological Talents
- Performance Round
- Hardest Training Session
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Quotes
“’Pressure is a privilege’ is definitely not my own words.”
“Actually being in a position of pressure is better than not because it means you’ve done something to deserve it”
“We’ve done this sport our whole life, we’ve trained as hard as we can, we’ve done everything we can to be the best athletes we can.”
Alistair’s Psychological talents
– Work hard
– Ingenuity
– Putting things in context
“Who dares Wins” – Mantra
“Keep it simple” – Recovery Tip
“Tenacious” – Racing Style
“Everything else in the world becomes irrelevant” – Being in the zone
“Consistency” – Best Advice
“Go out early on your bike and ride all day, including into the night and stop as little as you can.” – Physical Challenge
Resources
To follow Alistair Brownlee
Instagram: @alistair.brownlee
Twitter: @AliBrownleetri
Website: Brownlee Fitness
Foundation: thebrownleefoundation
Timeline
00:00 Start
04:43 Welcome Alistair Brownlee
05:50 His Gravel Trail Race experience
10:35 His Ankle Injury and Surgery
15:50 Tokyo Olympics and IOC Athlete Representation
21:00 How he Manages to Deliver Expectations
22:50 His participation in electric running
25:00 2016 Rio Olympics
30:13 Reflecting on 2016 Cozumel race
39:20 Darkest day of Alistair’s career
42:00 What he’s Learning from his Body
44:02 His Recovery Strategy
45:00 ‘Relentless’ His learnings from the book
48:42 Athletes Physiological Gifts
50:23 Alistair’s Psychological Talents
54:05 Performance Round
57:20 Hardest Training Session
58:50 Best Advice
59:17 Physical Challenge
1:04:49 Finish
People Mentioned
Vincent Luis – 2019 World Triathlon Series Champion, Super League Triathlon Champion, Dual Olympian, Episode 194 of The Physical Performance Show
Jonny Brownlee – Double Olympic & Commonwealth Medallist, 2012 World Triathlon Series Champion, Episodes 216 and 217 The Physical Performance Show
Greg Bennett (OLY) – 2002 & 2003 ITU World Cup Triathlon Series Champion, Episode 194 of The Physical Performance Show
Javier Gómez – Spanish triathlete Winner of five ITU Triathlon World Championships
Assoc Prof Shona Halson – Recovery Science ‘Q&A’ Episode 245 of The Physical Performance Show
Ronnie O’Sullivan – Runner
AP McCoy – Northern Irish former National Hunt horse racing jockey
Dr. Stephen Seiler – Sports Scientist – Polarised Training, Episode 172 of The Physical Performance Show
Eliud Kipchoge – Kenyan long-distance runner
Richard Varga – Slovak triathlete
Michael Shelley – Australian long-distance runner
Callum Hawkins – British distance runner
Kristian Blummenfelt – Olympic Triathlete, Super League Triathlon Champion Episode 117 of The Physical Performance Show
For questions and comments about this Episode
Send to the Show Host @Brad_Beer (Twitter) or @brad_beer (Instagram)