How Yorkshire shaped the Brownlee era

"I've had an incredible career. It's been nearly 30 years long and I've won more than I ever thought I'd ever achieve. It's time to move on because I wouldn't be doing myself justice by doing it half-heartedly."

Those were the words of triathlete Jonny Brownlee, who announced his retirement from professional sport on Friday, aged 36.

Now the Olympian is taking a step back from the starting line, former coaches, teachers and those inspired by his success have spoken about his legacy.

The younger Brownlee brother is a six-time world champion, and won gold, silver and bronze medals from the Olympics Games.

He and older brother Alistair, who twice won Olympic triathlon gold, grew up in the Leeds suburb of Horsforth, and both still live locally.

They were members of several sports clubs as children, including Bingley Harriers, and still have strong relationships with those they met there.

Their impact on triathlon, both locally, and beyond, can still be felt today, according to swimming teacher and the pair's former coach Coz Tantrum.

"They've got Yorkshire heart and they've got Yorkshire grit," she said.

Tantrum coached Jonny and Alistair from the ages of 11 and 13 respectively, when they joined the City of Bradford swimming club. Their early lessons in the pool were at Aireborough Leisure Centre in Guiseley.

Even from a young age, the brothers were committed to all three disciplines of the triathlon, Tantrum explained, although Jonny was the more "relaxed" of the pair.

"I'd finish the session and they'd literally sprint out of the pool and into the changing rooms.

"You'd see them outside handing the kit off to their parents and off they'd go, and they'd be running home or biking home."

Tantrum continued to coach the brothers until December last year, and witnessed first-hand their many successes and how they pushed each other, and the sport, on.

"They've got a massive amount of loyalty towards each other," she said.

For her, this was encapsulated when, in 2016, Alistair helped an exhausted Jonny over the line at the Triathlon World Series in Mexico.

"I think that's the moment when they became more than the triathlon brand.

"They transcended the triathlon, they transcended the sport, and there's not many people that can say they do that."

In the corner of Tantrum's swimming academy, she has a cabinet of Brownlee memorabilia to inspire others.

"If kids are getting into triathlon, everybody talks about them," she said.

"They have completely transformed triathlon. It's not just the legacy that they've left for Yorkshire, it's the legacy that they left for Great Britain."

PE teacher Matt Wilde taught all three Brownlee brothers at Bradford Grammar School - the youngest, Ed, is now a vet. Jonny also played team sports there, including rugby and cricket.

They were "incredibly intelligent, focused and ambitious" in their academic studies and sporting pursuits, he recalled.

"Bradford Grammar School is incredibly proud. They have inspired and still continue to inspire the pupils here."

Teaching alongside colleagues Tony Kingham, who ran the school running club, and Michael McCartney, Wilde said he feels "very fortunate" to play a small part in their lives.

The Old Bradfordians often return to their former school, to support the mini-triathlon event it holds annually, in association with the Brownlee Foundation.

The charity works with educational centres and other partners to introduce children to active lifestyles through all three triathlon sports.

Wilde added that although the pair are "superstars" it still feels "very normal" to see them back on school grounds.

"They are history makers but they're just well-grounded, normal individuals who have achieved such a huge amount in the world of triathlon," he said.

There are others in the region that had more fleeting, yet just as memorable, encounters with the Brownlees.

Back in 2012, organisers at York Parkrun were astonished to see Jonny - on the cusp of his first Olympic medal - turn up to take part in the weekly 5km event.

One of the volunteers that day said the young athlete turned up with "no fuss, no entourage".

"The story goes that he had been up studying all night and decided to come out and stretch his legs at York Parkrun," they said.

The course record in 2012 was 15 minutes and 57 seconds which Jonny comfortably bested with 14:43. It stood until 2017.

The volunteer added that "as a relatively new Parkrun and being in the lead-up to the 2012 Olympics, his visit did give us a lot of pride".

For their entire careers, the brothers used training facilities at the University of Leeds, where Jonny also studied history.

Even their kit requirements were met locally, as they were regular customers at triathlon specialists Triangle in Guiseley.

The late owner Adam Nevins, who died in a motorcycle accident in 2023, gave them advice on equipment when they were first entering races as children.

The Brownlee Centre, a collaboration between the university and Leeds Beckett, is the first purpose-built triathlon training centre in the UK.

Rhys Davey, head of Triathlon at the centre, spent many years training alongside the brothers, having first met them at university.

He described their commitment to training as "immense" from the very beginning.

"Not only are buildings named after them and a cycle track, but they really have inspired a generation of young people to do triathlon.

"They are a huge part of the reason [the centre] has grown to where it is today."

Pete Mackreth, dean of Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett, said the university congratulated Jonny "on an incredible career full of medals and memorable moments".

After the retirement of Alistair in 2024, Jonny's decision brings the curtain down on the Brownlee era of triathlon and their contribution to the sport entering the mainstream.

Mackreth added: "He's contributed to securing an incredible legacy for triathlon in the UK and in Leeds, helping to make the city a global centre of excellence in the sport," he said.

"I am sure Jonny will continue his long relationship with Leeds Beckett, and hope he remains a regular on campus whatever he decides to do next."

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