Video: How Leeds went wild for the Brownlees

Crowds in Millennium Square cheered and stamped their feet as the brothers finished in first and third places.

Chants of “Brownlee, Brownlee” rang out around the square as around 500 people watched the triathlon on a big screen.

Men, women and children, many waving flags and wearing replica gold medals, got to their feet as Alistair Brownlee crossed the finish line.

Members of the Leeds Metropolitan University triathlon team, where the brothers train, were among those cheering the pair to glory.

Robert Bridges, a triathlete with the team, described the brothers as “sound”.

He said: “This was exceptional for Alistair and getting the bronze is a fantastic achievement for Jonny.

“I’ve trained with them for about three years and they’re just sound guys.

“If they saw you in the street, they’d chat to you. They’re average guys who are just fantastic at triathlon.”

Mr Bridges added: “Alistair really wanted that medal. If you think of all the injuries he’s had over the last few years, it’s more a relief, I think.

“There was so much pressure on him, it’s just amazing what he’s done.”

He said it could be Jonathan’s turn for gold at the next Olympic games in Brazil.

“I think Jonny’s the one to watch for in Rio,” he said.

Triathlon team-mate Oliver Shannon said: “I think it’s a brilliant result. The right athlete won on the day. Alistair’s been the best in the world for two or three years now and good on Jonny for coming third.

“It’s brilliant for triathlon, especially in Leeds and Yorkshire. I think participation is going to rocket.”

Louise Hanley, a coach with the Leeds Met team, said she had known the brothers since they were teenagers.

She said: “(Alistair) was out to prove himself because he’s had some injuries but he’s worked so hard, he’s shown the whole world what he’s made of.

“I’m over the moon for them. They’ve got medals at the Olympics, what more can you say?”

A group of nurses from Leeds General Infirmary, where the Brownlee brothers’ father Keith works as a consultant paediatrician, were vocal in their support.

They said they arrived early to get their seats on the front row of the stand, where they waved flags and cheered loudly throughout the event.

Sarah Maddocks said: “We thought it would be a really good atmosphere, which it was, and they’re Yorkshire lads, so we wanted to support them.

“It was amazing.”

Kim Henderson said: “They’re just a great inspiration to children, aren’t they? Rather than all the Z-list celebrities.

“We’re really happy they came first and third. We’re proud to be British and proud to be from Yorkshire.”

The group said they had met Alistair, whom they described as “normal”, and said Keith Brownlee had been nervous in the run-up to his sons competing in the Olympics.

Support for the brothers in Leeds was not diminished by a heavy downpour during the cycling leg of the triathlon.

Fans sheltering in the stands donned waterproof clothing, while those in the open simply put up umbrellas and carried on watching the race.

But the sun reappeared as the Brownlees left their bikes behind and began the 10km run to roars from the crowd.

The audience conducted a countdown as Jonathan carried out his 15-second penalty.

And the cheers were deafening as the television commentator made reference to the brothers’ West Yorkshire background.

Martin Peace, president of Bingley Harriers running club in West Yorks, which the Brownlees joined in 1999, said he felt privileged to see them grow into world-beating athletes and win Britain’s first triathlon medals.

Mr Peace, who left Yorkshire on a 4am bus to Hyde Park with dozens of other club members, said: “It’s absolutely fantastic. It’s exactly what we hoped for and it couldn’t have been better. Well done to them.

“I think their innate talent has got them there. Being brothers, they are in each other’s pockets. They’re competitive and have been from an early age. Both have worked really, really hard.

“It’s magnificent and we’d like to think we’ve played a little part in their success.”

Mr Peace said that rather than Jonny’s 15-second penalty holding him back, it seemed to give him a boost.

“He looked to be struggling but it seemed to spur him on,” he said.

The Brownlees’ double medal win has helped further boost Yorkshire’s Olympic credentials.

White rose athletes have been hailed as “brilliant” after proud Yorkshire folk pointed out their performances meant the county would rank ahead of countries including Japan and Australia in the medal table.

Competitors from the county have now won five golds, two silvers and three bronzes. They represent almost 25% of Team GB’s total gold haul.

As countries on the medal table are ranked first by golds won, an independent Yorkshire this afternoon stood ahead of the Netherlands and narrowly behind Germany.

Today’s jubilant scenes in of Leeds echoed those in Sheffield at the weekend as local hero Jessica Ennis won the heptathlon.

Earlier this week cricket umpire Dickie Bird said the realisation his beloved Yorkshire would be beating entire nations was “absolutely brilliant”.

The Brownlees and Ennis are joined by cyclist Ed Clancy, born in Barnsley and brought up in Huddersfield, rowers Andrew Triggs-Hodge from Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales, and Kat Copeland from Ingleby Barwick, near Middlesbrough.

Other Yorkshire medallists are Lizzie Armitstead, from Otley, who won Team GB’s first medal, a silver in the women’s cycling road race; Nicola Wilson, from Northallerton, who won silver in the team eventing competition; and rower Tom Ransley, who lives in York and rows for York City Rowing Club, who was part of the British men’s eight crew which won bronze.