How triathlete Alistair Brownlee made others ‘dream and believe’

As a child, Brownlee relied on the expertise and equipment of Triangle Triathlon, a specialist shop in Guiseley, near his childhood home in Horsforth.

It was run by Adam Nevins, who died in a road accident in April 2023, but is now run by former triathlete Elliot Smales.

Smales, 30, raced professionally for five years, clashing with Brownlee from time to time.

“The late Adam Nevins, who formerly owned and operated the store, was an important part of Alistair and Johnny’s lives as they grew up, supplying them with equipment and bikes and doing repairs for them.

“So it’s nice to do business on that side of the store.”

It was Brownlee’s success at the 2012 London Olympics that inspired Smales to take up the sport.

“He was a great inspiration to everyone. I’ve had the pleasure of racing him a couple of times.

“The turning point in my career was the year I got on the podium, Alistair won the race and I was second.

“It makes you dream and believe. You’re looking at someone who is the best in the sport, and if you’re next to him, standing on the podium, it’s “right, what else is possible.”

“I think he probably got a lot of people chasing their dreams after seeing what he did.”