Olympics star Alex Yee ‘speechless’ as Lewisham running track named in his honour

Olympics leader Alex Yee’s fairytale twelvemonth draws to a adjacent with the moving way successful Lewisham wherever helium started retired being named aft him.

Yee was cheered by pupils from his aged schoolhouse whose dreams person been inspired by the astir palmy triathlete successful history.

The 26-year-old said aft the authoritative unveiling of a caller plaque astatine the present Alex Yee Ladywell Arena successful Catford on Friday: “I consciousness a spot speechless.”

Hours later, the newly-crowned SJA Sportsman of the Year besides won Team GB’s Moment of the Games grant for his thrilling last-gasp triumph implicit New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde to triumph golden successful Paris this summer.

He finishes 2024 unbeaten arsenic some the Olympic and satellite triathlon champion.

Yee, calved successful Lewisham Hospital and brought up successful Brockley, attended Stillness Infant and Junior schools successful Honor Oak Park.

But a horrific 2017 clang that near him with breached ribs, vertebrae and a enarthrosis leaf arsenic good arsenic a punctured lung plunged his vocation into doubt.

Yee added: “This beauteous tribute from my section assemblage is the archetypal clip I’ve felt this affectional since Paris and realised the value of what I’ve achieved.

“I’m precise honoured and it was superb to person truthful galore radical here, my family, coaches and teacher, who person helped maine truthful overmuch with my career.

“I anticipation that galore much young radical successful Lewisham proceed to bask and usage this arena to travel their dreams and go the precise champion versions of themselves.”

Mayor of Lewisham Brenda Dacres said the tribute was “a reminder to each young idiosyncratic that greatness is wrong their reach”, adding: “So, connected behalf of everyone successful Lewisham, a immense convey you to Alex for his dedication, for his triumphs, and for inspiring each of america to judge successful what is possible.

“We anticipation that this arena, present bearing Alex’s name, continues to animate galore generations to come.”

Lewisham North MP Vicky Foxcroft said: “Grassroots organisations and venues - specified arsenic this precise arena - person a captious relation to play successful ensuring each kid gets those choices and chances, nary substance what their background.

“I americium truthful arrogant that the astir palmy Olympic triathlete of each clip is from my constituency. As good arsenic being a superb athlete, Alex is an unthinkable ambassador for athletics and I’m definite an inspiration to galore young radical successful Lewisham and beyond.”

Yee, whose Olympic haul stands astatine 2 golds, 1 metallic and 1 bronze medal, besides won golden astatine the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

His Instagram bio reads: “Lewisham to the World” and adjacent helium has been taken aback by his success.

In 2021, erstwhile Yee received an email informing him he’d been honoured with an MBE helium initially believed the invitation to Buckingham Palace was a joke.