ALISTAIR Brownlee has confirmed he will put his Ironman dreams on hold to target another Commonwealth Games triathlon title on the Gold Coast early next year.

The 29-year-old Bingley Harrier had taken time out after defending his Olympic crown in Rio to focus on longer-distance races but a hip operation earlier this year has prompted him to reconsider his short-term goals.

Brownlee, who won Commonwealth individual and mixed relay golds in Glasgow in 2014, will be joined by his brother Jonny at the Games in April.

"I have been very clear that I didn't want to make any fixed decisions about my future but I wanted to take a step back after focusing for ten years of my life on the Olympics," said Alistair.

"Obviously the year didn't work out how I would have liked, because of my hip operation, but just the process of going through training and learning about a different sport was very valuable.

"But I think I would always have tried to qualify for Gold Coast – even if it had been in 10,000 metres or the marathon. The Commonwealth Games has always meant a lot to me and I am motivated to race for England in a place which is a real heartland of the sport."

Brownlee, from Bramhope, made an apparently seamless transition to the longer distances, winning on his debut in Gran Canaria and again in Utah, and admitted he still hoped to one day be in a position to compete in his sport's ultimate event.

He said: "The World Ironman Championships in Hawaii is something every triathlete wants to do. I've been a triathlete since the age of eight and I've followed it and known about it all these years.

"I definitely want to do it at some point but whether I have to delay those dreams a little bit longer or not, we'll have to see."

Jonny Brownlee is a Commonwealth gold (relay) and silver (individual) medallist and former world champion, while he won Olympic silver (Rio) and bronze (London) medals behind his brother.

The brothers are joined in the Team England triathlon squad by Tom Bishop, Vicky Holland, Jess Learmonth and Sophie Coldwell.