Alex Yee just produced one of the greatest finishes in triathlon history to win Team GB's fifth gold medal of Paris 2024.
The 26-year-old looked set for silver with less than 1km to go but turned on the afterburners in the final few metres to overhaul New Zealand's Hayden Wilde and take gold in dramatic fashion. Yee was back in second by approximately 15 seconds as Wilde produced a stunning run leg after working hard on the bike to make up for lost time in the water. And with spectators in Paris and at home believing the medals to be decided, Yee said 'no thank you'. With just a few hundred metres to go, the Tokyo 2020 individual silver medallist kicked on and reeled in the Kiwi to take victory on the Pont de Alexandre III by six seconds in a performance even he could hardly believe.
"I still don't really know what to say to be honest, I'm a bit lost for words and so grateful," said Yee.
What. A. Finish. 😲
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 31, 2024
Where on earth did Alex Yee find that speed from? It's a stunning gold medal for Team GB in the men's triathlon.
Speechless. 🤯#BBCOlympics #Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/LdrfljrmfO
"At 5k I was going through a real bad patch and at 2.5k I thought I'm going to give myself one last chance and not give up and here we are. I'm still a bit lost for words.
"I was just saying 'anything can happen'. I'm still just that normal guy who works hard at my sport and loves what I'm doing.
"For me, it's amazing that I can be in this position and I just believed it. "They [his team] came and lined the streets and supported me and everyone of them gave me a push to get to Hayden.
"And I appreciate him for giving me that push as well and really extracting everything out of my body." Yee was in 18th position after the swim but quickly made-up time on the bike leg to join a hefty peloton of around 20 riders who worked together all the way up until T2. And with the aid of fellow Team GB triathlete Sam Dickinson, who placed Yee perfectly ahead of the run leg, it was a story ready to unfold.
What the Olympic Games is all about 🤝
— Team GB (@TeamGB) July 31, 2024
The utmost respect between two brilliant competitors.#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/banRNIv3yw
Yee took the lead immediately after transition as Wilde came from behind to sit on his shoulder in a familiar sight to triathlon fans, with the two friends often going toe-to-toe in the final stages. But it suddenly all changed, with Wilde pushing on to extend a comfortable lead of 15 seconds and Yee appearing unable to respond. The signs were there, Yee didn't let up on the gap and kept Wilde in his sights throughout the 10km. But in a final spurt of energy, Yee stormed into the lead in incredible fashion to overtake his rival and clinch gold just hours after Team GB's Beth Potter took bronze in the women's event.
Sportsbeat 2024