A LONG-TERM mentor of Alistair and Jonny Brownlee has received a major accolade at the UK Coaching Awards.

Leeds-based coach Malcolm Brown MBE was announced as the joint-winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the showpiece annual event in London.

Brown has over 35 years’ worth of coaching experience, across a largely voluntary-based career, which has seen him work with the leading athletes in the world.

He was approached by the Brownlee brothers’ parents more than a decade ago and has since helped them dominate the world triathlon scene.

Notable former roles include head coach for UK Athletics at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, coaching at Leeds Metropolitan University and as British Triathlon’s Olympic performance manager at London 2012.

Brown is also the founder and director of triathlon at the Leeds Triathlon Centre and was an integral force in establishing The Brownlee Centre in Adel.

He has coached Leeds-based triathletes to an unprecedented five Olympic medals and 89 multiple World, Commonwealth and European medals (including 37 gold).

Brown said: “I have enjoyed a long and successful career in coaching, and having recently retired, am honoured that my achievements have been recognised at the UK Coaching Awards.

“I hope that this will help to inspire other coaches to embark on an incredible coaching journey.”