Jonny Brownlee gestured over his shoulder as he stood in the athletes' pen at the Odaiba Marine Park with a gold medal hanging around his neck.
He pointed towards a bed of shrubs and said his brother Alistair had appeared out of them, as if by magic, to console him when he finished fifth in the men's triathlon last week. Somehow, it seems Alistair has always been there to console him.
He was there when he won gold at the 2012 Olympics in London and Jonny won bronze. He was there at the 2016 Olympics in Rio when he won gold and Jonny won silver. He was there, famously, at the climax of the World Triathlon Series in Cozumel, Mexico, five years ago, when he propped Jonny up as he tottered in the heat and carried him over the line.
Jonny Brownlee had the fastest time out of all competitors as Team GB won mixed relay gold
Brownlee finally secured a gold medal to enjoy a bit of Olympic stardust himself
That is the way it has always been until now. Jonny has been showered with congratulations for everything he has achieved but, at the Olympics, the congratulations have always been laced with sympathy. When you are the second-best triathlete in your own family, it can be like a lead weight. But Jonny has always borne it easily and with grace.
Even on Saturday, he remembered the 2006 World Junior Triathlon Championships in Lausanne. Alistair won, Jonny crashed out on the first corner of the bike course. He recalled Rio, too, when he suggested to Alistair that they were so far clear of the field on the run they should conserve energy.
'I said 'Alistair, relax now, let's just run this together' and he saw that as 'right, Jonny's suffering so I'm going to attack him'.
Alistair attacked him. And Alistair won gold. Jonny grins at the memory.
There is no artifice about him. There is no resentment.
Jonny believes he would not be as successful if it wasn't for the challenge posed by his brother
'One of my proudest things in my triathlon career is the fact I have never had any jealousy towards Alistair,' he said. 'I have never looked up and thought 'Why is he winning the gold
