Brownlee out of Sub7 due to hip injury
Two-time Olympic gold medalist's tough year continues
Photo by:
Kevin Mackinnon
2022 hasn’t been a great year for two-time Olympic gold medalist Alistair Brownlee. He struggled over the closing kilometres of Ironman 70.3 Oceanside, had to pull out of the Ironman World Championship St. George at the last minute due to illness, and now is out of the Sub7 attempt against Olympic and defending Ironman world champ Kristian Blummenfelt because of a “stress response in his hip that requires immediate treatment,” according to event organizers.
Brownlee will be replaced by countryman Joe Skipper.
“Honestly, I’m devastated,” said Brownlee. “I was frustrated to miss St. George, and now this. I’m gutted. I was so invested in the process and loved working with my team. This was the goal that stimulated me again in the sport, on par with the Olympics. I’ll do what I can to support Joe.”
“We are extremely disappointed with the announcement, but when you are pushing your body to the limit like Alistair has been, it’s a fine line,” said two-time Ironman world champion Chris McCormack, one of the organizers of the Sub7/ Sub8 program. “Alistair is a true professional and will be there to support Joe, who has been preparing for Ironman Nice at the end of June, so in good shape to take on the challenge.’’
Related: Sub7/ Sub8 Project will take place at Germany’s Dekra Lausitzring
Brownlee will support Skipper as a pacer in the swim, and will then join the commentary team for the live broadcast. Jonathan Brownlee, who was to be part of his brother’s marathon pacing team, won’t be involved in the attempt – he’s being replaced by German national marathon champion Frank Schauer.
The Sub7/ Sub8 attempts are set for Sunday, June 5, 2022, with a back up day set for Monday, June 6, 2022.
