Sports arena that nurtured Alex Yee’s amazing talents gets renamed in his honour
Ladywell Arena has today been renamed the Alex Yee Ladywell Arena in a special event to honour Lewisham’s amazing Olympic and World triathlon champion.
The athletics park in Silvermere Road this morning staged an official unveiling of a new golden plaque by Alex himself, followed by speeches by various local dignitaries.
These included Brenda Dacres, Mayor of Lewisham, Vicky Foxcroft MP for Lewisham North, Cllr Edison Huynh, cabinet member for communities and culture and Alex’s childhood sports coaches.
This was followed by some sporting activities on the track with pupils from Stillness Infant school – one of his old schools.
The multiple use sports arena is used by the Kent and Blackheath Harriers athletic clubs and Lewisham Borough and Forest Hill Park football clubs. It has has a 400m all weather running track and a gym, as well as a football pitch. The stadium is also floodlit.
Alex himself has written “Lewisham to the World” on his Instagram bio. The 26-year-old athlete was born very close to Ladywell Arena at Lewisham Hospital and lived locally with his family in Brockley.
Alex went on to excel at running during his time with Kent AC training on the Ladywell Arena track. As a young person, Alex represented Lewisham at the London Youth Games and the national Mini Marathon, winning in the U15 category in 2013.
He was awarded bursaries from Lewisham council to support him with travel expenses for meets and competitions and was awarded the Mayor’s Special Achievement Award at the Lewisham Sport Awards in 2012.
With two golds, one silver, and one bronze medal, Alex is now the most successful triathlete in Olympic History. He won the gold medal in the men’s triathlon at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the silver medal in the same event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the gold medal in the triathlon mixed relay at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and the bronze medal in the same event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Alex was also the 2022 Commonwealth Games triathlon champion in both the men’s and mixed team events and also finished his 2024 season being crowned world triathlon champion.
He was honoured with a special mural near Brockley station in 2021, designed by local artist Lionel Stanhope, which was updated this year in honour of his Olympic success to BrockYee.
Alex was named as the first ever recipient of the Mayor of Lewisham’s Recognition Award in 2021, a new award given to inspiring individuals from Lewisham who have done the borough exceptionally proud and inspired others to aim high.
Pictured top: Alex Yee with his gold medal after an incredible finish to the triathlon in Paris (Picture: PA/Alamy)