Jonny Brownlee and Alex Yee switch focus to Birmingham 2022

Jonny Brownlee and Alex Yee both said the Commonwealth Games was their main focus this year after being named alongside Georgia Taylor-Brown and Sophie Coldwell in Team England’s triathlon line-up.

Birmingham 2022 takes place from July 28-August 8 and triathlon will be the first medal event on the programme at Sutton Park.

Yee told the PA news agency: “We’re really fortunate to have the Commonwealth Games this year, I think it’s come at a good time, kind of continuing on from the Olympics last year and keeping a bit of that momentum.

“So for me I’m really excited. I’d say my biggest goal this year is to perform better and major championships at home are almost a once-in-a-lifetime thing, unless you’re Jonny!”

Yee, 23, won mixed relay gold and silver in the men’s individual event at Tokyo 2020 before finishing third overall in the 2021 World Championships Series.

“I’m really excited to go out and race and in front of big crowds in Birmingham as well,” he added.

“I’ve definitely put a lot of effort and thought into planning my race schedule around the Commonwealth Games, so I’d love to race to the best of my ability there.”

Brownlee, 31, won gold in the mixed relay in his first Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.

The 2012 individual world champion, who also won individual bronze and silver at London 2012 and Rio 2016 respectively, also claimed gold in the mixed relay at Tokyo 2020.

Great Britain’s team – Brownlee, Yee, Taylor-Brown and Jess Learmonth – were all awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list earlier this month for their services to triathlon.

Brownlee told PA: “I’ve been unbelievably fortunate in my career to be able to compete at a home Olympics, a kind-of-home Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and now a