THE OLYMPIC CHAMPION

On 31 July, Great Britain's Alex Yee put together arguably the greatest one-day performance we have ever seen at an Olympic Games to win gold. And we were there at the finish line to speak to tri's new poster boy...

The opening line of the race report read how 20 years on from New Zealand’s first and only Olympic triathlon gold medal, Hayden Wilde had put in a careerbest performance to regain the title for his nation. Then Alex Yee comes around the corner.

Yee’s charge, seemingly from nowhere on the final lap of the 10km run in Paris, didn’t just help him become the most decorated Olympic male triathlete of all time, and didn’t just cap a rivalry that has been building for six years, it left seasoned watchers of swim, bike, run in awe.

It will go down as one of the greatest triathlon races; Yee, still just 26, as one of the greatest triathletes. His medals from Paris added to the two from Tokyo, leaving his haul at two gold, a silver and a bronze, and counting.

But more than all that and amid the uncertainty and frustration of the water quality and the current in the Seine, he carried himself with grace and humility as a fine ambassador for the sport.

Following the delayed individual race on Wednesday and the mixed team relay five days later, 220 Triathlon was able to capture Yee’s thoughts about the unique experience of his second Olympic Games. We’ve rounded up the best bits here.

220: What was going through your mind when Hayden Wilde pulled clear in the first part of the run?

Alex Yee: I was certainly riding a bad patch. Through 2-6km I was in second place, with the guys behind closing quite rapidly behind. I said to myself with 3km to go that I wanted to give it one more chance. I owed it to myself, to so many who came to watch, and who waited after the postponement.

220: Amid the crowd noise, we understand you were able to pick out the encouraging voice of Alistair Brownlee?