Heartwarming scenes as brothers take gold, silver in triathlon

History was made in the men’s triathlon Thursday, as Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee became the first brothers in 56 years to take gold and silver in the same event.

Alistair, defending his gold medal from four years ago, built up a big lead and was able to walk across the finish line of the 10-kilometer race. Six seconds later, he was joined by his younger brother of two years, and the siblings shared a heartwarming embrace.

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A touching embrace from the brothers at the end of the triathlon. Pic: Getty

“I was pretty confident we would get first and second,” Alistair Brownlee told The Guardian after the race. “I didn’t know entirely which way it would go. I’ve had the edge the last couple of races but he’s killed me in training every day. We’ve both been flying, pushing each other to the max. I had to go through hell and I did.”

The two almost performed the same feat in London, but Jonathan was edged out of silver. The Brownlees are the first brothers to take home gold and silver in the same event since show jumpers Raimondo and Piero D’Inzeo did so in 1960.

“I realize how good Alistair is and I gave it everything to beat him,” Jonathan Brownlee told The Guardian. “I was training as hard as I possibly could. And it’s a silver medal at an Olympic games. If I wanted to get beaten by any athlete out there, it’s got to be Alistair.”