Grandfather of Olympic Champ Alex Yee Shares Unanticipated Motivation for His London Marathon Premiere at Age 93
Rewritten Article:
British athlete Alex Yee is gearing up for his first London Marathon, drawing inspiration from his 93-year-old grandpa, Albert. Known for his Olympic triumphs in triathlon, Yee aims to conquer the 26.2-mile distance in under 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Yee, a 27-year-old member of Team GB, blends his marathon training with shared runs with his spirited granddad. Recently, they tackled a 5km parkrun together, finishing in 55 minutes and 17 seconds.
Grandpa Albert's boundless enthusiasm for running leaves a lasting impact on Yee. As he shared, "He said to me when we were running, 'If I die running, I'll be happy', which shows how much running means to him. Parkrun has given him that zest for life, which is really nice." Despite Albert's exact location on the marathon course remaining uncertain, Yee yearns for a heartfelt reunion at the finish line.
Joining the Yee family's marathon legacy, this triathlete has some stiff competition from beloved family members like Albert, his other grandfather David, and parents Ron and Emma, who have all previously run marathons. Jokingly, Yee expresses a hope to outrun them all and set the fastest family time.
While boasting an impressive roster of athletes, the London Marathon faces stiff competition this year. Notable runners include the defending champion Alexander Mutiso Munyao, Olympic gold medalist Tamirat Tola, and breakout athletes like Jacob Kiplimo and Sabastian Sawe. Marathon record holder and Yee's idol, Eliud Kipchoge, headlines the race and will attempt to clinch his fifth victory in the event.
Grateful for these marathon greats, Yee has exchanged a few words with Kipchoge via WhatsApp and is eager to meet him post-race.
After the London Marathon, Yee plans a return to triathlon next year, with high hopes that his marathon experience will augment his efforts to defend his Olympic title in Los Angeles in 2028.
He explains, "This has been a great thing for me to be able to do to then come back into triathlon and use those learnings and get better. I knew I couldn't do the same thing and expect the same outcome for the next four years. It's scary just flat lining. I wanted to do it in a fun and unique way, and the London Marathon is something I've always wanted to do."
Three-time London Marathon winner and British record holder, Paula Radcliffe, anticipates Yee could even place among the top 10 this Sunday, though Yee humbly acknowledges the challenging field.
[1] Alex Yee: British long-distance runner and triathlete born on February 18, 1998, known for Olympics success and 2023 London Marathon performance.[2] Early training background in swimming and triathlon.
- Alex Yee, a Team GB member, is preparing for his first London Marathon, drawing inspiration from his 93-year-old grandad, Albert, who shares his passion for running.
- During his marathon training, Alex Yee often runs with his granddad, Albert, and they recently completed a 5km parkrun together in 55 minutes and 17 seconds.
- Despite not knowing exactly where Albert will be on the marathon course, Alex Yee hopes to share a hug with him at the finish line, dreaming of a heartfelt reunion.
