Jonny Brownlee ready to take centre stage at Tokyo Olympics
Jonny Brownlee is convinced it is his own “time to shine” in Tokyo but admits the absence of his double Olympic champion brother Alistair alongside him on the triathlon start line will have a major impact.
Alistair Brownlee’s exclusion from the team for Japan was confirmed on Monday when the British Olympic Association announced Alex Yee as the second member of the men’s team for the games.
The 23-year-old had effectively sealed the decision by storming to victory in the World Triathlon Series race in Leeds last week while Alistair, who has been struggling with an ankle injury, was disqualified during the swim.
“I have been very fortunate to have Alistair next to me on the start-line in the last two Olympics and without him it is going to feel very, very different,” admitted Jonny Brownlee.
“But I like to think that I will be able to deal with it and it will hopefully be my time to shine now.
“These Olympics are going to be so different and this is just another little difference in the grand scheme of things.”
Jonny Brownlee, two years his brother’s junior, had grown used to battling away in Alistair’s shadow, first in