Brownlee crowned European Champion

World champion Triathlete and Leeds Met student Alistair Brownlee has added European Champion to his list of sporting achievements following success in Ireland.

Alistair, 22, who is studying for an MSc in Finance recovered from injury during training earlier this year to storm to victory at the Athlone ETU European Championships on Sunday.

Despite strong winds during the cycling, which resulted in organisers shortening the course by 2km, Alistair created a strong lead for himself in the 10k run in order to win the European title with an impressive time of 1:44:24, ahead of the defending champion Javier Gomez of Spain.

After the race, Alistair said: "When I was injured earlier this year, this is what I was aiming for. That is the biggest number of high fives I have ever done into the finishing straight."

Alistair's coach, Carnegie Director of Triathlon, Jack Maitland added: "I was very pleased by Alistair's all-round performance and the way in which his team mates Jonathan Brownlee and Philip Graves were able to support him. The European championships are never easy to win and it is fantastic that Alistair now holds the European and World titles."

Brownlee, who is also coached by retired Carnegie Director of Sport, Malcolm Brown, missed much of the season since winning the world title last September due to injury, however Brownlee won the World Championship Series in Madrid inJune this year with an outstanding time of 1:52:41.

Alistair is now preparing to race in further rounds of the World Triathlon Series including London on the 25th July and the final in Budapest in September.