You may not have heard of him before he broke onto the triathlon scene with a double Olympic medal haul at Tokyo 2020, but Alex Yee’s been working his way up the triathlon ranks for years.
Here’s how Yee went from Crystal Palace Triathlon Club age-grouper, to being awarded an MBE for his services to triathlon, in just the space of a few years…
Who is Alex Yee?
Alex Yee is a British professional triathlete from Lewisham, London. At the ripe age of 23 in 2021, he became an Olympian gold medallist and Super League Triathlon champion.
Yee first took his place on the world stage in the 2016 ITU Junior Duathlon Championships in Aviles, where he took gold and later went on to win the SportsAid ‘One to Watch’ award which was presented to him by Sir Mo Farah.
Marked for great things, 2017 didn’t go to plan, however, with Yee colliding with another competitor into a concrete bollard during the bike leg of the 2017 ITU World Cup in Cagliari, suffering serious, season-ending injuries.
The next year in 2018 is when things really started to pick up pace for Yee, whose background in track saw him claim a personal best in the 10,000m and narrowly missing out on setting an all-time British under-23 record.
The remainder of the season saw Yee take home a smattering of top 10 ETU and ITU finishes, along with a podium-position in Weihai where he achieved his first bronze in senior racing.
The following year in 2019, Yee consolidated on past performances with a bunch of top five finishes, coming second to Mario Mola at the World Triathlon race in Abu Dhabi and topping the podium twice in team relay events.
Skipping ahead to 2021, Covid-19 had seen a halt to most professional racing for the good part of a year, but promising times were ahead for young Yee, who’d since turned 23.
Fast-forward to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (which actually took place in 2021) and Yee shone on the world stage, proving himself an absolute powerhouse on the run and all-round strong competitor. Yee claimed Olympic silver in the men’s individual race and gold for Great Britain in the mixed relay.
But the season wasn’t over and Yee went on to compete in the high-octane Super League Triathlon series, claiming the series win for 2021.
How old is Alex Yee?
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Alex Yee is currently 23-years-old and was born on 18 February 1998 in Lewisham, London.
Alex Yee’s career highlights
Here’s a break down of the key moments in Yee’s career so far, learn who has inspired his career and what he’s set his sights on for 2022.
August 2012: Watches Brownlee brothers’ success in London 2012
Among thousands in Hyde Park to see British triathlon Olympic medal success for the first time – proving that a dream could become reality.
June 2017: Suffers horror bike crash in Italy
A week before sitting his A-levels, Yee collides with a concrete bollard in his first World Cup race in Cagliari, suffering broken ribs, vertebrae and a collapsed lung.
May 2018: Wins British 10,000m title on debut
Defeats veterans Andy Vernon and Chris Thompson at Highgate to take national title in 27:51:94 – barely 5secs outside Dave Bedford’s British U23 record set in 1971.
July 2018: Runs 13:34mins over 5,000m at London Anniversary Games
A first taste of Diamond League action against world’s best track runners in Olympic stadium. Yee returns the following year to improve his PB by 5secs.
September 2018: Races first-ever Olympic distance triathlon
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Yee scores a top ten in his first Olympic triathlon at the U23 Worlds in Queensland, Australia.
February/March 2019: Makes mark on world senior stage
Wins first World Cup in Cape Town then finishes runner-up to world champion Mario Mola in Abu Dhabi on his World Series debut. The world starts to pay attention.
June 2021: Wins first World Series race in Leeds
Secures Olympic qualification and thrills bumper home crowd in Roundhay Park and a live audience on BBC with accomplished all-around victory.
July 2021: Wins Olympic silver and gold
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Takes on Norwegian Kristian Blummenfelt and Kiwi Hayden Wilde to finish second in the Tokyo 2020 men’s individual race, taking home a silver medal for Great Britain.
Anchors Team GB’s mixed team relay squad to inaugural Olympic title five days after finishing runner-up to a charging Blummenfelt in individual race.
August 2021: Misses out on world title in Edmonton
Despite being the fastest 10km run by 40secs, finishes 11th and must settle for third in the series as Blummenfelt adds world title to Olympic success.
September 2021: Hero’s return for first leg of Super League Triathlon
Sun and crowds out for a return to racing on home soil in London’s docklands as SLT starts four-week mini-season. Finishes fifth in Triple Mix format.
Wins Super League Triathlon title in Malibu
After placing third in Munich and winning in Jersey, takes overall crown after beating Marten van Riel in a sprint finish in California and scoops $120k.
New Years 2022: Appointed an MBE
Yee was appointed a Member of the British Empire (MBE) during New Years Honours for his services to triathlon, along with his fellow relay gold medallists: Jonny Brownlee, Jess Learmonth and Georgia Taylor-Brown.
Alex Yee quotes
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On being inspired by London 2012: “I feel I’m a product of London 2012. To have the Olympics on my doorstep and watch Ali and Jonny fly by really lit a fire for me.”
On his horror crash in Italy: “It gave me perspective, you realise that health is the No. 1 thing. And it gave me clarity that I loved triathlon.”
On winning his first WTCS race in Leeds: “My most complete race of the year – a proud moment that made me believe in myself and what I was doing. I remember being so present and able to make such clear race decisions. I was really living.”
On missing out on the world title in Edmonton: “Edmonton was a learning curve, and I’m at complete peace that I didn’t win because I don’t feel I’m at that point where I can call myself a world champ.”
On racing the Super League Triathlon series in 2021: “The SLT format doesn’t really suit me, but I found a way to be competitive. Racing in London is just different gravy, the support was incredible. Another highlight was the sprint finish with Jonny in Jersey.”
What’s next for Yee?
Next up on the horizon for Yee are the 2022 Commonwealth Games, set to take place in Birmingham, where he hopes to inspire a new generation of triathletes watching, as he was inspired by Ali and Jonny’s success in London 2012.
Beyond this, Yee aims to ‘be competitive in any race scenario’, with plans to work hard on the individual disciplines, breakout speeds and the physiology of cold-water swimming.
One thing’s for sure, there’s good things to come for Alex Yee. Watch this space.
Top image credit: Getty Images