Brownlee dad jokes of Alistair’s heroics: He could have been gentler… he threw poor Jonny over the line!
Dr Keith Brownlee spoke of his immense pride at sporting act but joked Alistair could have been more careful with brother
THE proud dad of the Brownlee brothers praised "selfless" hero Alistair - then joked he shouldn't have thrown Jonny over the line.
The Team GB stars made headlines around the world yesterday after Alistair helped sick Jonny to finish the World Triathlon Series.
Jonny, who won silver to Alistair's gold in Rio, was on the verge of collapse from heat exhaustion when his big brother stepped in.
But dad Dr Keith joked the older sibling should have been more gentle with Jonny as he literally pushed him over the finish line.
He said: "I was massively worried about Jonny. He looked quite ill from about one kilometre before the finish line, he was wobbling around, looking a bit glassy-eyed.
"But when Alistair saw his brother in trouble his win-at-all-costs reputation went out the window. It transcended sport really.
"Empathy, selflessness and worry for his brother took over.
"We were just relieved to see him take his brother in his arms and get him over the finish line and towards medical attention as quickly as possible.
"He could have put him down a bit more gently though! He kind of threw him over the finish line!"
He said: "I don't want to be remembered as the guy who looked like a wobbly horse down the finishing line, but hopefully for what I've done in the Olympics and other good races.
"At the end of the day, I'm a competitor and I wanted to win the world championship."