Britain’s Olympic triathlon champ Alex Yee to make marathon debut in London
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Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee will compete in his first professional marathon in London next year.
PHOTO: X/@TEAMGB
LONDON – Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee plans to run the 2025 London Marathon in what would be his debut at the 42.195km distance, adding another sporting accomplishment to his glittering resume.
The 26-year-old Briton produced one of the most memorable moments of the Paris Olympics, when he reeled in New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde in the final minutes to capture gold in an extraordinary finish after trailing his rival for most of the run.
Yee has raced for Britain on both the track and cross-country and was the country’s 10,000m champion in 2018.
“Committing to the TCS London Marathon for me was a no-brainer,” said Yee, who was born and raised in London.
“It is an event that has given me so many memories. London Marathon day has been such a big part of my life growing up.
“I remember racing the Mini London Marathon multiple times as a young athlete and it was one of my biggest and most exciting races of the year.
“Taking part in a full marathon has always been an itch I’ve wanted to scratch and there isn’t any another place than London that I would want to start that journey.”
Days after racing to gold in Paris, he added a bronze in the triathlon mixed relay, bringing his tally of Olympic medals to four after he captured silver in the individual triathlon and gold in the mixed relay in Tokyo in 2021.
“Alex Yee is one of the greatest all-round athletes this country has produced,” said Hugh Brasher, the chief executive of London Marathon Events.
“His win at the Paris Olympic Games will go down as one of the most thrilling moments in British sporting history.”
The London Marathon takes place on April 27.
Meanwhile, UK Sport said it will invest £330 million (S$565 million) in Olympic and Paralympic sports for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, though athletics and canoeing will see their funding cut.
The Olympic budget for athletics was reduced to £20.5 million for Los Angeles from £22.2 million.
The funding for canoeing was cut by over £500,000 from the Paris figure to £12.5 million for 2028.
“The decision that we’ve made against all the sports is we’ve looked at their potential,” UK Sport chief executive Sally Munday told the BBC in an interview published on Dec 16.
“UK Athletics will receive in excess of £30 million for the Olympic and Paralympic programmes and we believe that’s going to put them in a great place to support their athletes in the lead into LA.”
REUTERS
