BRADFORD Grammar School headmaster Simon Hinchliffe spoke of his pride this afternoon after former pupils Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee clinched gold and silver in the Olympic Games triathlon in Rio de Janeiro.

Mr Hinchliffe said: “Words cannot express how thrilled and proud we are that two former Bradford Grammar School pupils have won a brilliant Olympic triathlon gold and silver in Rio.

"Alistair and Jonny show a wonderful drive and commitment to excellence that started during their time at Bradford Grammar.

"They are a proud example for our school, for Bradford, for Yorkshire and for Great Britain.

"They present an image of sport that is wonderful and represents all that is good in running, cycling and swimming.

ALISTAIR AND JONATHAN BROWNLEE CLINCH GOLD AND SILVER

"They offer us yet another opportunity to celebrate our Yorkshire and Great Britain medal winners who excelled at an independent school."

Alistair admitted: "I was pretty confident we would get first and second but I didn't know which way round it would be.

"I just had the edge on Jonny but he has killed me in training and I have been going through hell. It has been so hard. I have woken up in pain every day.

"The swim wasn't that quick but we knew the first two laps on the bike would be crucial. The last few weeks we have been training to commit and boy we did.

"As soon as we got to halfway, I knew we were going to get two medals and it was just a run for it."

Alistair became the first person to retain his Olympic triathlon title when he took gold in 1hr 45min 01sec at Fort Copacabana.

Fellow Bingley Harrier Jonathan, who was third in London four years ago, won silver this time just six seconds behind but it was not as close as that really as Alistair walked across the line with his hands in the air with the Union Jack draped around his shoulders.

Third was South African Henri Schoeman, who was 42 seconds adrift of the winner.

After crossing the finishing line, the Brownlee brothers, who grew up in Horsforth and live in Bramhope, embraced while on the floor.

It was Great Britain's 20th gold medal of the Games.

East Bradford Cycling Club member Gordon Benson, from Halifax, was in the second group on the bike leg just over a minute adrift but was involved in a three-man crash, damaging his rear wheel.