Alistair Brownlee Attacks Brother Jonathan's London 2012 Triathlon Penalty As A 'Disgrace'

Alistair Brownlee has launched an attack against triathlon organisers after describing the penalty his brother Jonathan picked up at the Olympic event as a “disgrace”.

The Brownlee brothers finished in gold and bronze positions after a thrilling race through Hyde Park.

But, after collecting his gold medal, Alistair hit out at the rule which resulted in his brother’s 15-second standing punishment.

“I think penalties are a disgrace in triathlon,” he told reporters, including the HuffPost UK.

Jonathan Brownlee collapsed after the end of the race while Alistair picked up gold

“They are ruining the sport and bringing judgemental decisions into a sport which should be a simple ‘you start, you finish and the first three across the line win’.”

Jonathan was forced to wait while the clock counted down after it was ruled he’d broken a rule in the transition from swimming to cycling.

Speaking about the incident Jonathan, who was still seated in a wheelchair after collapsing near the finish line, said: “If I didn’t get the penalty it would have been closer, but I don’t think I’d have beaten him.

"I don’t think the penalty changed the result. It’s the first penalty I’ve ever got and I didn’t realise I’d done anything wrong.

“When I saw the board I thought, 'oh number 31, Alistair’s got a penalty, what an idiot'.

“Then I looked at my arm and I thought, ‘oh, I’m 31’ and then I thought ‘oh dear'.

“My first thought was , oh well, that’s a shame. It was super hard for me.

The medal ceremony was delayed while Jonathan received medical treatment after he over-heated.

“After the finish I collapsed, I crossed the line and felt awful. I got into the tent after and got worse and worse and I was sick.

“My mum came into the room and they covered me in ice and towels. That’s just triathlon.”

The brothers made history for Team GB after becoming the first winners of medals in the brutal three-discipline event, and levelling Team GB’s haul of gold to the same level as in Beijing.