The Paris gold medallist and world champion will take on the challenge of 26.2 miles in London next April. Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee is to race next year’s London Marathon, with the 26-year-old setting his sights on running one of the quickest ever times by a British athlete.
Yee claimed a dramatic gold medal this summer as he chased down Hayden Wilde’s 14-second lead in Paris, before earning bronze in the mixed event a few days later. The south-east Londoner added the world triathlon title to his collection and is shortlisted for the Sports Personality of the Year, which is to be awarded in Salford on Tuesday night.
Before then, Yee announced his plans to race over 26.2 miles next April. An accomplished runner at the junior level before switching his attention to triathlon, Yee told the Guardian that a dream target would be 2 hours and 7 minutes. Only two British athletes - Mo Farah and Emile Cairess - have gone under 2:07.
“I want to give it a real go,” Yee said. “I know it’s a challenge doing it in a six-month window. But if the planets align, I’d love to run in the ballpark of 2:07 to 2:10.”. He also explained that the London Marathon has been a “big part” of my childhood and explained the decision to commit to the April 27 race was a “no-brainer”.
