Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee described his London Marathon debut as "one of the best experiences" of his life, despite facing tougher challenges than during his victory at the Paris Games. The 27-year-old athlete finished 14th in the men's elite race with a time of 2:11:08, marking a significant milestone in his athletic career.

Yee, who also clinched the triathlon world championship in October, less than 12 weeks after his Olympic triumph, was the second-fastest Briton in the race. Reflecting on his experience, Yee expressed immense pride in completing the marathon and praised the unparalleled support from the crowd.

"It was probably one of the best experiences of my life if I'm being honest. I expected the crowd to be good but they were another level," Yee told BBC Sport. "I am so proud to have completed the marathon. An amazing experience but it was hard at the end. Emotions about [the] time will come afterwards, but the main thing for me today was to enjoy it, do something unknown and embrace it. I did that to the best of my ability."

Yee also compared the marathon to his triathlon experiences, noting the unique physical demands of the marathon. "My legs have never been this sore. Physically they are quite similar but my legs have never felt like this in my whole life. It's a new experience definitely," he added.

Despite the challenges, Yee confirmed that the marathon would not become a permanent focus, as he aims to defend his Olympic title in Los Angeles 2028. "Definitely a lot more dark moments, I'd say, than Paris, today," Yee remarked. "Once I got to 32, 33k there's a lot of pain there. My legs are cramping and I just had to keep fighting through that."

In the women's race, Eilish McColgan made her marathon debut, securing the highest finish among British runners in the elite women's race in 8th place. She also set a new Scottish marathon record of 2:24:25, surpassing her mother's personal best.

"I was very, very nervous. Probably the most nervous I have been," McColgan shared. "The distance was an unknown. I have never raced more than a half marathon so the thought of doing it back-to-back was scary. The crowds were insane."

McColgan expressed her desire to break the two-hour 20-minute barrier in future marathons and plans to adjust her training regimen accordingly. "There will definitely be more marathons in the future. Hopefully there can another before the end of the year," she concluded.

Both Yee and McColgan's performances at the London Marathon highlight their resilience and dedication to their sports, setting the stage for future achievements.