By Sara Evans

Alistair Brownlee Nov 18November 17 - Alistair Brownlee and Helen Jenkins have been recognised for their outstanding achievements this year at the British Triathlon's Annual Awards ceremony, held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.

Brownlee (pictured top), the 2012 Olympic champion, was awarded the Olympic Athlete of the Year award and for the fifth successive year was awarded the GE British Triathlon Male Elite Triathlete of the Year.

He delighted hundreds of thousands of London 2012 spectators in Hyde Park, and inspired millions more, with his dominant gold medal-winning performance.

Of those Games, Brownlee said: "I didn't know how I would feel when I crossed the finishing line because it's a dream I've had since I was eight years old, but it's finally sunk in now and I'm ready to move on and achieve some more targets.

Alistair Brownlee Nov 18
Alistair Brownlee celebrates before crossing the finish line at  London 2012


"I've never had the chance to race in the Commonwealth Games, so I'm looking forward to that and lots of other new things."

Following her fifth place London 2012 finish - the best ever Olympic finish by a British woman - Jenkins received the GE British Triathlon Female Elite Triathlete of the Year award, which also recognised winning the ITU World Series.

She said: "It's been strange to see all the footage tonight from the Olympics; I'd not watched it until now.

Helen Jenkins Nov 18Helen Jenkins with her GE British Triathlon Female Elite Triathlete of the Year award

"When I reflect back on it I can't help but feel so happy that I was there and got to enjoy the brilliant support we had there."

The men's Olympic triathlon team of Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee and Stuart Hayes collected the prestigious Peter Holmes Award for Inspirational Performance in International Competition.

This has been Britain's most successful ever year in the sport, boasting five ITU Paratriathlon World Champions and the ITU world title claimed by Jonathan Brownlee.

In addition, Non Stanford became the ITU under-23 world champion and Leanda Cave was crowned Ironman world champion in Hawaii.

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