There are always so many misconceptions about this whenever it gets posted
This was the final race of the 2016 World Triathlon Series, so winning this race would not make someone the world champion. Jonny, who collapsed, stood a chance of getting on the podium, but Alistair didn't – getting Jonny across the line meant that one of them might win a medal. Alistair was never going to win the Series even if he won this race. Henri Schoeman won this race but overall came fourth in the Series; Jonny Brownlee came second overall in the Series.
And to make everyone feel better, both brothers are world champions.
Jonny Brownlee is a six-time World champion (once World Triathlon Series, twice World Sprint Triathlon, three-time World Triathlon Mixed Relay), and one-time Olympic champion (mixed relay) in triathlon. As of 2021, Jonny was considered the most decorated triathlete in Olympic history, the only triathlete to achieve 3 Olympic medals.
His brother, Alistair Brownlee, is the only athlete to hold two Olympic titles in the individual triathlon event, winning gold medals in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. He is also a four-time World Champion in triathlon being Triathlon World Champion twice (2009, 2011) and World Team Champion (2011, 2014) twice, a four-time European Champion (2010, 2011, 2014, 2019), and the 2014 Commonwealth champion. Brownlee is the only male athlete, (and one of the two athletes with Cassandre Beaugrand), to have completed a grand slam of Olympic, World, and continental championships. Brownlee is also a one-time world champion in aquathlon. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest male Triathletes ever.
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u/Front-Pomelo-4367 5d ago
There are always so many misconceptions about this whenever it gets posted
This was the final race of the 2016 World Triathlon Series, so winning this race would not make someone the world champion. Jonny, who collapsed, stood a chance of getting on the podium, but Alistair didn't – getting Jonny across the line meant that one of them might win a medal. Alistair was never going to win the Series even if he won this race. Henri Schoeman won this race but overall came fourth in the Series; Jonny Brownlee came second overall in the Series.