Endless Pools advocate and swim spa hydrotherapy promoter Alistair Brownlee MBE had the unfamiliar role of coming second in a major event at the culmination of the 2016 Sports Personality of the Year presentation ceremony.
Although double triathlon Olympic Gold winner Alistair is used to tough challenges imposed by competitions and preparation for events, he was unable to overcome world number one tennis ace Andy Murray’s considerable popularity with voters but he rounded off a spectacular year by receiving the Sports Personality of the Year runner-up trophy last night.
Alistair, who followed up his London 2012 Olympic Games victory with Commonwealth Games Gold in Glasgow to add to his triathlon honours and incredible achievements that include European and World Championships titles, received 121,665 votes from members of the public.
He was way behind Andy, though, who gained a massive 247,419 votes from an overall total of 747,788 to become the first person to lift the Sports Personality of the Year trophy on three occasions after achieving major success this year, including an Olympic Gold medal and the Wimbledon championship for a second time.
This year during the preparations for their Olympic Games triathlon battle in Brazil, Alistair and his brother and fellow world champion triathlete Jonny gained major benefits from utilising the Endless Pools technology, which they have been heavily promoting while taking advantage of their specialist Endless Pools model in their home county of Yorkshire.
In September the brothers received global media coverage after Alistair, pictured right, came to the rescue of Jonny, an Olympic Silver medal-winner in Rio pictured left, who was suffering from heat stroke during the final stages of the Triathlon World Series in Mexico.
Alistair told the arena audience and BBC One viewers of the Sports Personality of the Year programme that he didn’t have time to calculate other options other than to rescue his younger brother.
“It’s a split second decision,” divulged Alistair; “There was literally no time to make that decision.
“I decided to pick him up. We got to the finish line and I pushed him across the finish line face first.”
Veteran showjumper Nick Skelton also landed an Olympic Gold medal this year and this achievement was recognised by voters during the Sports Personality of the Year ceremony to help him land the third place trophy with 109,197 votes, which was double the total received by long distance Olympic Gold medal-winning runner Mo Farrah in fourth place with 54,476 votes.
Paralympic swimmer Ellie Robinson won the Young Sports Personality of the Year award; Olympic gymnast Simon Biles was bestowed with the Overseas Personality of the Year honour; while boxing coach Marcellus Baz was presented with the Unsung Hero Award; and marathon runner Ben Smith lifted the Helen Rollason Award.
Team of the Year went to Premier League Champions Leicester, while their manager Claudio Ranieri was presented with the Coach of the Year award.
Legendary retired Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps, and the most decorated Olympian of all time, was another swim spa advocate who was recognised for his achievements during the presentation evening.
Michael, who has helped to develop his own Signature range of swim spas from Master Spas, received the Lifetime Achievement award that was presented by Prince William.
“To retire with the greatest end to a career I could have had is a dream come true,” said Michael; “This award means the world.”
Since acquiring the Endless Pools brand last year Watkins Wellness, the world’s leading manufacturer of hot tubs including the pedigree HotSpring and Caldera Spas brands, has overseen production of the new cutting-edge fitness systems with swimming and low-impact exercise options within the Endless Pools Fitness Systems and SwimCross Exercise Systems ranges that incorporates advanced swim-in-place functionality.
Endless Pools dealers are now promoting these advanced fitness systems, including the Endless Pools Fitness Systems E500 and E700 models, as well as SwimCross Exercise Systems X200 and X500, as being the ‘next generation’ technology and design.
Their showroom marketing efforts have been wgiven a boost with the E500 and X200 gaining WhatSwimSpa? Best Buy Award-winning status in the 2016 edition of the consumer magazine.
“We believe in providing customers with a product that is stylistically better and extraordinarily versatile with swim and exercise options suitable for any customer,” said Watkins Wellness Executive Vice President Mike Dunn.
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