Merchant Taylors’ was delighted to welcome the Olympic champion triathlete Alex Yee to the School last week for a memorable afternoon of insight, inspiration, and athletic demonstration. Yee – one of Britain’s leading endurance athletes and the second fastest British marathoner in history – offered pupils a rare chance to learn from someone operating at the very top of world sport.‑fastest British marathoner in history, offered pupils a rare chance to learn from someone operating at the very top of world sport.
The visit began in the lecture theatre, where Alex spoke to staff and students about his journey from growing up in Lewisham to becoming an Olympic champion. He discussed the formative experiences that shaped him as a young athlete, the discipline required at elite level, and the importance of finding a sense of purpose – something he now seeks to foster through his new charity, Lewisham to the World. The initiative aims to broaden horizons for young people in his home borough by offering opportunities not only in sport, but also in music, art, photography, film and other creative fields, helping them “find their own why.”
Following the talk, Alex joined a group from our Sports Scholars and Performance Pathway for a short track session. The highlight came when he demonstrated his marathon pace – the same pace he held during his 2:06 performance at the Valencia Marathon, which made him Britain’s second fastest man over the distance. Even over a single lap, very few could stay with him, offering everyone present a clear sense of the physical demands of elite endurance sport.‑fastest man over the distance. Even over a single lap, very few could stay with him, offering everyone present a clear sense of the physical demands of elite endurance sport.
Listening to Alex Yee talk about his career was really motivating, especially how much he emphasised consistency, discipline and trusting the process. Hearing about how he pushed through setbacks and injuries earlier on in his career made it feel more real and relatable as I too have been setback because of injuries. Seeing him talk and then display why he is a gold medallist has made me want to be more focused and patient with my own goals going forward.
Looking ahead, Alex spoke briefly about his targets for 2026, including the return of the World Triathlon Championship Series to London, where he hopes to perform strongly on home soil, as well as ambitions across both triathlon and long distance running.‑distance running.
Reflecting on the visit, Scott de Weymarn, Head of Sport Scholarship, said:
This was a genuinely special experience for our boys. Alex was excellent with them - open, humble and incredibly thoughtful in the way he spoke about performance and purpose. Opportunities like this don’t come around often, and I hope everyone who attended took something valuable from the afternoon.
Alex’s visit offered our students not just sporting insight, but a broader message about ambition, hard work and the value of looking beyond familiar surroundings. It was an afternoon that will stay with them for years to come.
