Love One Another With Brotherly Affection

Anyone who follows the sport of triathlon–I started paying attention a couple years ago–knows of the Brownlee brothers. Alistair Brownlee is a two-time Olympic gold medalist for Great Britain (2012, 2016), while his younger brother Jonny placed third in London and second in Rio. Rarely do you see an Olympic distance triathlon (1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run) without one or both of the Brownlees challenging for the win.

Even if you don’t care a jot or tittle about the sport, you have to be a fan of this video. At the end of the World Triathlon Series event (the last of the season) in Mexico, after an hour and forty-five minutes of extreme exertion in 90 degree heat and humidity, big brother gave up his chance at victory to help his little brother cross the line in front of him (and not die!).

I think I’m going to make my oldest boys, both of whom run middle school cross country, watch the video (or this version). Just so they know what’s the right thing to do if they see the other go wobbly. And in case you’re wondering if helping your brother across the line is legal, apparently it is, at least if you are both participants.

Well done, Alistair (who, like a real big brother, said afterward that he wished “the flippin idiot had just paced it right”).