Tom Bishop was part of the British U23 podium sweep at the ITU Triathlon World Championships ln Beijing last year, and we are convinced that we will hear a lot more from this fast twin. Meanwhile though we had a few words with him, and soon we will have an interview with his twin brother David who is also quite fast. So the Brownlees have another set of brothers hot on their heels, and coincidentally they live very close to each other.
Slowtwitch: Good day Tom.
Tom: Now then.
ST: Are you well?
Tom: I’m good, tah.
ST: You closed out 2011 with a fine podium finish at U23 Worlds in Beijing, would it be fair to call that the season highlight?
Tom: Definitely. It capped off an amazing season. I won my first senior British title and also got some experience racing in the World Championship Series races. But to finish with a world medal was amazing it is what everyone trains so hard to get.
ST: You were passed very late by your teammate McNamee in that race. Were you bummed about not finishing second, or was the British podium sweep just too sweet?
Tom: I was disappointed not to win, being less than 10 seconds behind Matt, but that disappointment didn’t last very long. Like I said a world medal is amazing and being part of that clean sweep, which was the first in the history of triathlon was so cool. Dave is my house mate and Matt and I have been mates for ages so I was happy to see the fellas do so well, it was just a shame Aaron had an off race too, we could have got 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th!
ST: That might have been a bit embarrassing for the other nations.
Tom: Perhaps. But I hope they would be impressed, for example I am always amazed when nations have so much depth in their sport; the Australians have shown that in the past, and there are other nations not far off now, like the Germans and the French. I think the best example is in Ethiopian and Kenyan running, they often sweep away the competition, and it is incredible.
ST: Do you think with that great British result in Beijing came also quite a bit of expectations for this year and the years to come?
Tom: There is always expectation with young medalists in the Great Britain team, look at our history! However I don’t feel external expectation, I think the Olympic hype as taken that away and forced it on our senior athletes. I have self-expectation always, I hate to go into a race unprepared knowing I’m not at my best. My expectations are high too, I hope to follow in the footsteps of our senior athletes in the future.
ST: Would you like to be in their shoes right now?
Tom: Of course! The chance at going to a home Olympic games at a medal hope is amazing! I think it came a year or two too early for me.
ST: In 2010 we saw you finish second in the junior race in Budapest. How did that event and field compare to the U23 finals in 2011?
Tom: Budapest was my first world championships, so that will always be special too me, and the city was amazing. Being the last event in Hungary was tricky, all that waiting. I felt I also had to live up to Jonny and Alistair’s wins too, so to get the silver felt amazing. I think a world championship field is always going to be strong, and you have to beat who is racing; the best in the world at that time. The only difference was that I was one of the eldest in Budapest and one of the youngest in Beijing.
ST: Did you have any preferences in terms of the courses?
Tom: I take each race as they come. Obviously I have strengths; I like hills, I like running off road and I like cool conditions, so neither were perfect. But you can’t always get what you want in terms of courses. Sometimes you have the advantage or at a disadvantage, I guess you have to make yourself invulnerable, that’s what Jonny and Alistair have done.
ST: Do you get to train much with Jonny and Alistair?
Tom: I live in Leeds, which is where we are all based. We do most of our key sessions together. But our sport is very individual, so I do a fair amount of training on my own too. I can’t do the volume they put themselves through, I tried a few times on training camps and it is just too much. They are exceptional workers. That is what has got them where they are today.
ST: What about hanging out socially?
Tom: To be honest, when we are in hard training, it is difficult to have a vibrant social life; it is usually just relaxing at home recovering. When I do socialize, I like to spend it with my friends away from the sport so I get a bit of a break. I think it is healthy and keeps you from becoming stale if your life is triathlon 24-7. So I don’t often spend social time with them, but our training is social enough most of the time, it isn’t always as serious as you may think.
ST: So what is next for you this year?
Tom: My winter has been a bit in consistent in terms of training. I found it difficult to get going again because last season took a lot out of me and I have had some injury issues. Though I never planned on starting early just because World Championships are so late in the year. So firstly I’ll be doing a French Grand Prix for my team Rouen and then a few points races to get my ranking up, and take it from there. I want to be on top form for Auckland to get that gold medal.
ST: Although it is still a long time out, any thoughts on who might also be a contender in Auckland?
Tom: I think Auckland will be a very strong field. There are lots of athletes from other countries my age who have trained tremendously hard over the winter to try and qualify for the Olympics and this could bring into contention many whom I haven’t even considered. I know the feller Fernando Alarza who won Junior Worlds when I was second is going really well now. It is always difficult to know who will race U23 and seniors, because there are a lot of younger athletes who have broken through young, Jonny and Alistair are the best two examples both being U23 last year too.
ST: When you do well, do you think that puts pressure on your brother?
Tom: I hope it gives him a bit of inspiration to work hard and get to where I am. He isn’t far off; he just needs to catch up a bit on some missed training. I think he has finally shaken off that bad luck which was following him around (he got knocked off his bike by a stray marquee during European qualifiers one time!). As a family there is only support for each other, I hope my success doesn’t put pressure on him, that isn’t a pleasant feeling.
ST: Do you thrive under pressure?
Tom: I don’t really feel pressure. I think I am lucky that I am part of a team, which is so successful that the pressure is spread about. If I ever do feel pressure I try to take myself out of context and that relaxes me and refocuses me on the basics of racing.
ST: Tell us about your sponsors?
Tom: My sponsors are great, Asics support me with kit, which is quality stuff, I love it. I also get a bike off Enigma; experts at creating superb titanium frames. General Electrics offer British triathlon financial and medical support and I am lucky enough to be an ambassador for them, which has its perks. Powerbar provide me with awesome nutritional support, great tasting and high performing. I also get Udo’s Oil, a supplement I think all sportspeople should take, its great for recovery, injuries and energy levels. I am lucky enough to get a few glasses of Oakley each year; everyone knows they are world leaders in sports eyewear.
ST: Anything else we should know?
Tom: I have a pet snake called Sammy who my Mum has adopted whilst I’m at university. I study history and I’m interested in popular belief during the middle ages; the study of magic and superstitions. I enjoy reading and read the Hunger Games trilogy in a weekend when I was injured. I’m about to start Catch -22 by Joseph Heller. I am into cricket too and spend my spare time watching the Indian Premier League T-20. I like drinking tea.
ST: Maybe Sammy would like to hang out in transition in Auckland while you do your race?
Tom: I’d probably get a time penalty for that. They seem to bring you up on everything now. Though I remember James Elvery in Sydney helping out Ivan Vasiliev with a rogue shoe. That was very kind and would have saved the Russian a penalty.
ST: Well Tom, have a good one and tah for that chat.
Tom: Cheers feller, take care.
