Few British competitors at these Olympic Games go into their event with a greater burden as favourite than Alistair Brownlee, who is defending the triathlon title he won with such commanding athleticism in 2012. Together with his younger brother Jonny, it would be a shock if at least one of them does not get on the podium and a surprise if neither gets the gold medal. The absence because of a fractured elbow of their leading rival, Spaniard Javier Gomez, who was second in the 2012 Olympics, finishing between the British brothers, has only increased their chances of success.

Source: The Times August 13, 2016 23:15 UTC