How triathlete Alistair Brownlee got others to ‘dream and believe’

Growing up Brownlee relied on the expertise and equipment of Triangle Triathlon, a specialist shop in Guiseley, not far from his childhood home in Horsforth.

It was managed by Adam Nevins, who died in a car accident in April 2023, but is now managed by former triathlete Elliot Smales.

Mr. Smales, 30, competed professionally for five years and occasionally faced Brownlee.

“The late Adam Nevins, who owned and operated the store, was a big part of Alistair and Jonny’s lives growing up; He provided them with kits and bikes and went out and tinkered for them.

“So, it’s nice to continue on that side of the store.”

It was Brownlee’s success at the London 2012 Olympics that inspired Mr Smales to take up the sport.

“He was a great inspiration to everyone. I’ve had the pleasure of racing him a few times.

“An important moment in my career was the year I got on the podium, Alistair won the race and I finished second.

“It makes you dream and believe. You admire someone who is the best in the sport, and if you’re right next to them, standing there on the podium, it’s like ‘right, what else is possible?'”

“I think it probably inspired a lot of people to follow their dreams after seeing what he did.”