Double Olympic champion 'honoured' by degree

Double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee has said being awarded a degree by the University of York was a "genuine honour".

The 36-year-old is one of six people to have received the honorary accolade, conferred on individuals who have made oustanding contributions to society, as part of the university's winter graduation ceremonies.

Brownlee, who was born in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, won Olympic triathlon gold at London 2012 before successfully defending his title in Rio four years later.

Speaking at a ceremony on the Heslington campus, he congratulated students graduating from the university in January, calling it an "incredible milestone" for them and a "day to celebrate".

A world champion in 2009 and 2011, Brownlee is the only triathlete to be crowned junior world champion, U23 world champion, European champion and Olympic champion.

In 2016, Brownlee famously helped his exhausted brother, Jonny, over the finish line in a dramatic end to the Triathlon World Series in Mexico after his younger sibling's legs started to give way.

Last year, Brownlee announced his retirement from the sport saying he had fulfilled his "childhood dream" and had achieved far more than he "ever dared to imagine".

In a speech after receiving the University of York accolade, Brownlee said: "Relatively early on in my career, I realised the end result, no matter how great, could never really justify the effort it took to get there.

"What really matters is learning to enjoy the process along the way and taking pride in each step of the journey - that's where I found true reward."

Brownlee and his brother, himself a triple Olympic medallist, are founders of The Brownlee Foundation.

The organisation has provided free triathlon experiences to at least 65,000 primary school children since its work began.

The University of York honour is not the first time Brownlee has been recognised for his achievements, with both brothers appointed MBE in 2013 for services to sport.

Meanwhile, in 2019 they both received honorary doctorates in sports science, due to their "long-standing" relationship with Leeds Beckett University, where the pair trained as teenagers.

Others being awarded honorary degrees at the University of York during January include best-selling author Reni Eddo-Lodge, Mobo award-winning musician Nitin Sawhney and founder of the Buzz Project Dr Ryad Alsous, as well as Helen Barnard, from the Trussell Trust, and broadcaster, author and structural engineer Roma Agrawal.

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