The London Youth Games Hall of Fame

EVERY Young Londoners Games 

The London Youth Games Hall of Fame serves as a testament to the incredible talent that has graced the event over the years. It also highlights the important contributions made by volunteers, coaches, officials, and partner organizations to make the games a success. The list of inductees features some of the most iconic sportspeople in the UK, who have gone on to achieve greatness in their respective fields. From Mo Farah’s Olympic gold medals to Zoe Smith’s Commonwealth Games triumph, these athletes have inspired countless young people to pursue their dreams. David Weir’s remarkable Paralympic success and Rachel Yankey’s pioneering achievements in women’s football have also earned them a well-deserved place in the Hall of Fame. These individuals have not only excelled in their sports but have also contributed to the wider community through their dedication and hard work. The London Youth Games Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to their incredible achievements, and a reminder of the transformative power of sport.

Sport: Athletics
Borough: Bromley
LYG Story: Dina began her athletics career representing Bromley at the London Youth Games.
Achievements: The British record holder in 100m and 200m. 3x Gold medallist at the 2018 Berlin European Championships (4x100m, 100m, 200m). She also won Olympic 4x100m Bronze in Rio 2016 and Commonwealth Gold in Gold Coast.  Also, all four of the 4x100m relay gold medallists’ women including Dina (Asha Philip, Daryll Neita and Bianca Williams) are LYG alumni.

Sport: Football

Borough: Brent

LYG Story: Sterling started his football career for Brent at the London Youth Games. 

Achievements: Played for QPR, Liverpool and most recently, Manchester City. He has represented England at U16, U17 and U21 level and England at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups. Won the Premier League with Man City in 2018.

Sport: Swimming

Borough: Havering

LYG Story: Marren competed for Havering in the London Youth Games and claims this was the “starting point” for her swimming, her “first taste of success” and “the most incredible experience” of her life.

Achievements: She made her Games debut as one of the youngest athletes in ParalympicsGB in London 2012. The following year she won four world titles at the 2013 IPC Swimming World Championships in Montreal, Canada.

Sport: Athletics

Borough: Kingston

LYG Story: Started his sprinting career running for Kingston at the London Youth Games. 

Achievements: Won 4x400m relay silver at the 2009 World Championships before finishing in the same position at the 2010 European Championships. He was part of the British quartet that came 4th at the London 2012 Olympics. In 2014 he helped his team to win gold in the 4x400m relay at the European Championships in Zurich and the Commonwealth games in Glasgow.

Sport: Netball

Borough: Enfield

LYG Story: Kadeen first started playing netball at the age of 12, representing Enfield for netball.

Achievements: Received over 50 caps for England, most recently when England won Gold at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Sport: Athletics

Borough: Bromley

LYG Story: Competed for Bromley in cross country for the London Youth Games.

Achievements:  Shannon represented GB at the 2017 World Championships in London and won gold in the 2015 British Indoor Athletics Championships in 2015. Cheriece was selected for the Women’s 4 x 400m Relay at the recent Gold Coast Commonwealth Games earlier this year. The Hylton twins were also recently selected to be represented by Andy Murray’s management agency.

 

Sport: Hockey

Borough: Kingston

LYG Story: Starting her career at the London Youth Games, Bray represented Kingston for Hockey.

Achievements: Played in the GB team that won Gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She won silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Bray was appointed a MBE in 2017.

Sport: Athletics

Borough: Newham

LYG Story: Competed for Newham in the London Youth Games Cross Country competition.

Achievements: Won gold in the 200m at the 2017 European U23 Championships and made her Commonwealth Games debut on the Gold Coast where she competed in the 200m and 4x400m relay.

Sport: Football

Borough: Southwark

LYG Story: Represented Southwark in the London Youth Games.

Achievements: In 2006, aged 15, she came off the bench to play for Arsenal in a League Cup contest . With Arsenal she went on to win the quadruple, winning the Premier League, FA Women’s Cup, Premier League Cup, and the UEFA Women’s Cup. Flaherty was also a part of the Arsenal team that lifted the London County FA Women’s Cup in the same season. She has  already claimed 22 trophies during her career. She continued her winning streak with Chelsea, winning two doubles – the FA Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Cup – in 2015 and 2018. She has nine England caps since her debut in 2015 and now plays for West Ham United.

Sport: Table Tennis 

Borough: Westminster

LYG Story: Represented Westminster at Table Tennis in the London Youth Games.

Achievements: Competed for England at the 2014 Commonwealth Games winning silver with partner Liam Pitchford. She was the youngest member of England’s table tennis team at just 15 years old. Aged 17, she won her first national women’s singles title and most recently at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, she was part of the England squad which won team bronze.

Sport: Alpine Skier

Borough: Richmond

LYG Story: Played tennis and dry slope skiing.

Achievements: One of the UK’s most successful alpine ski racers. She is the only British ski racer to have won a single run in a World Cup race and she has represented Team GB at four Olympic Games.

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2011

Sport: Rugby

Borough: Enfield

LYG Story: Played girls tag rugby for Enfield.

Achievements: One of the world’s foremost players in the women’s game. Known as “The Machine”, she has played a key role in England winning seven successive Six Nations wins and the 2014 World Cup.

Sport: Javelin

Borough: Bexley

LYG Story: Competed for Bexley at the London Youth Games. 

Achievements: He has twice broken the javelin world record and is the only British track and field athlete to have won medals at three successive Olympic Games. Winner of nine further major championship medals, including four European gold.

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2009 and hosted the 2011, 2012 & 2013 ceremonies.

Sport: Paralympic Swimmer

Borough: Hackney

LYG Story: Introduction to competitive sport came after coach Michelle Weltmann was tasked with recruiting Hackney’s London Youth Games disability swimming team.

Achievements: Won five Paralympic medals, including gold in the SB11 (blind) class at Athens 2004. Also won 29 World and European medals.

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2011

Sport: Judo

Borough: Kingston

LYG Story: Competing for Kingston at the London Youth Games.

Achievements: Won bronze, her first ever Olympic medal at London 2012. It was the 16th major medal of a career which also included seven World Championship medals and four European titles. 

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2013

Sport: Basketball

Borough: Lambeth

LYG Story: He represented Lambeth at the 1979 London Youth Games.

Achievements: First bona-fide Englishman to play in the NBA and went on to play around the world alongside Magic Johnson for the LA Lakers. Won bronze at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Winner of over 100 international caps.

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2014

Sport: Athletics

Borough: Hammersmith & Fulham

LYG Story: Competed at the first ever London Youth Games in 1977 for Hammersmith & Fulham where he was only selected for the relay.

Achievements:  One of the most successful British athletes of all-time, becoming the only man to simultaneously hold the Olympic, World, European, Commonwealth 100m titles. Winner of 24 major championship medals.

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2009

Sport: Athletics

Borough: Croydon

Achievements: Olympic bronze medallist in the 400m hurdles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2010

Sport: Basketball

Borough: Croydon

LYG Story: Competed for Croydon at the London Youth Games. He was patron of the 2009 London Youth Games.

Achievements: One of the world’s premier basketball players and one of the biggest stars of the NBA. Twice an NBA All-Star.

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2009 

Sport: Triathlon

Borough: Hounslow

LYG Story: Competed for Hounslow in the triathlon at the London Youth Games.

Achievements: One of the UK’s foremost competitors in triathlon. He has competed in three Olympic triathlons and is the only man ever to win the World Triathlon, World Duathlon and World Aquathlon titles.

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2011

Sport: Athletics

Borough: Hounslow

LYG Story: Represented Hounslow in cross country at the London Youth Games, placing 9th in the 1994 under 13s race. 

Achievements: Made history by winning double gold in the 10,000m and 5000m at the 2012 Olympic Games and repeating the feat at the 2013 World Championships, where he also defended his 5000m and 10,000m titles. In both the 2015 European Championships and 2016 Rio Olympics, he once again defended both titles becoming the second man in history to win both races in two consecutive Olympics. He then went on to win gold in the 10,000m and silver in the 5,000m at 2017 World Championships. Soon after these Championships, he switched his focus to running marathons.

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2010

Sport: Football

Borough: Southwark

LYG Story: Competed for Southwark in gymnastics at the London Youth Games.

Achievements: Between 1997 and 2011, he played for England 81 times. He had won ten major trophies with Man Utd, including six Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2007/08 where he was captain. Has captained England on several occasions. 

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2010

Sport: Judo

Borough: Greenwich

LYG Story: Represented Greenwich in judo at the London Youth Games. Patron of the Games in 2013.

Achievements: She won bronze in the 2009 World Universiade – the premier international student competition. But at London 2012, she made a massive step up, winning silver in the under 78kg class becoming the first British judoka to win an Olympic medal for 12 years. 

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2012

Sport: Athletics, High Jump

Borough: Hackney

LYG Story: The high jumper represented Hackney in athletics at the London Youth Games. 

Achievements: He enjoyed a 16 year career at international level which garnered five major championship medals including gold at the 1994 European Indoors and gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. He represented Great Britain at three Olympic Games.

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2011

Sport: Badminton

Borough: Waltham Forest

LYG Story: He represented Waltham Forest at the London Youth Games. 

Achievements: One of the greatest British badminton men’s singles player in the history of the game. He is a 10-times English Champion, five-times Commonwealth medallist, former European men’s single champion and a double Olympian. 

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2013

Sport: Kayak

Borough: Harrow

LYG Story: Competed at the London Youth Games for Harrow. 

Achievements: With partner David Florence, he won silver in the C2 class at the 2012 Olympic Games. He has also won five World Championship medals including one gold and six European Championship medals, including two gold.

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2012

Sport: Rowing

Borough: Havering

LYG Story: Represented Havering at the London Youth Games, where he took part in some of his early rowing competitions. 

Achievements: Has enjoyed a stellar international career in the lightweight double sculls with partner Zac Purchase, including winning 2008 Olympic gold, 2012 Olympic silver and World Championship gold medals in 2010 and 2011. 

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2009

Sport: Squash

Borough: Greenwich

LYG Story: Competed for Greenwich in Squash.

Achievements: One of the top-class squash career, peaking as World no4. Enjoyed major success at the Commonwealth Games, the sport’s most prestigious competition, winning men’s doubles gold and singles bronze in 1998 and men’s doubles bronze in 2002. Won seven European Team Championships with England.

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2011

Sport: Swimming

Borough: Hackney

LYG Story: Represented Hackney at the London Youth Games as a visually impaired disability swimmer. 

Achievements: Successful international career in the pool.  Competed at four Paralympic Games, winning bronze in the S13 50m freestyle in Sydney 2000 and bronze in the S13 200m individual medley at Athens 2004. 

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2009

Sport: Fencing

Borough: Barnet

LYG Story: He competed for Barnet at the London Youth Games. 

Achievements: International career with six European medals and three Olympic selections. In reaching the quarter-finals of the individual foil at Athens 2004, he produced the best performance at the Olympics by a British male for 40 years. 

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2013

Sport: Swimming

Borough: Barking & Dagenham

LYG Story: Won his first major medal at the 1989 London Youth Games for Barking & Dagenham. 

Achievements: As a learning disability classified swimmer, he didn’t have the opportunity to compete at the Paralympics. But he won 17 World and 10 European Championship medals, as well as breaking 11 world records. 

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2014

Sport: Netball

Borough: Newham

LYG Story: She represented Newham in netball at the London Youth Games.

Achievements: One of the country’s greatest players. She represented England on more than 100 occasions, picking up Commonwealth Games and World Championship bronze medals in a high-class career.

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2010

 

Sport: Athletics

Borough: Newham

LYG Story: Represented Newham at the London Youth Games in both netball and athletics. 

Achievements: One of the most successful British athletes ever. She won Olympic 400m gold in 2008 and Olympic silver in 2012. She is the only British woman ever to win gold at two World Championships in 2007 and 2013.

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2009

Sport: Athletics

Borough: Lewisham

LYG Story: He represented Lewisham at the London Youth Games.

Achievements: One of the mainstays of the GB athletics team in the 1980s and 1990s. before going on to enjoy a superb international career as a 200m sprinter and relay specialist. Winner of 18 medals at major championships, including two Olympic medals, two World gold and two European gold. 

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2012

Sport: Rowing

Borough: Harrow

LYG Story: Competed for Harrow at the London Youth Games as a swimmer. 

Achievements: She resumed her competitive career as a rower and went on to win Olympic gold in the mixed coxed sculls at London 2012, improving on her bronze in the same event in Bejing 2008. Winner of eight World Championship medals, including six gold. 

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2012

Sport: Cycling

Borough: Sutton

LYG Story: First represented Sutton at the 2004 London Youth Games, where she helped the borough to silver in the cycling.

Achievements: ​Winner of gold in the team pursuit at the 2012 Olympics, she has also won multiple gold at World & European Championships and Commonwealth Games. 

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2012

Sport: Football

Borough: Tower Hamlets

LYG Story: Played football for Tower Hamlets at the London Youth Games.

Achievements: Won over 100 international caps. She has represented England at three Euro Championships and two World Cups. She scored the winning goal for Arsenal when they won the UEFA Women’s Cup in 2007.

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2013

Sport: Weightlifter 

Borough: Greenwich

LYG Story: Her first experience of competitive sport came at the London Youth Games as a gymnast, asked to try out as a weightlifter from Greenwich, she discovered her huge talent. 

Achievements: She has competed in three Commonwealth Games including Dehli 2010 where she won Bronze, Glasgow 2014 (Gold) and most recently silver medallist in Gold Coast (2018). And she represented GB at London 2012. She is the first English woman to win a Commonwealth weightlifting medal and is currently four-time British record holder. 

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2014

Sport: Para Athletics 

Borough: Sutton

LYG Story: One of his first ever athletics competitions was in the colours of Sutton at the London Youth Games. 

Achievements: He is one of the greatest Paralympic athletes of all-time. In wheelchair racing, he has won ten Paralympic medals a from 2004-2012 including six gold. He attained iconic status with quadruple gold at London 2012. Eight times London Marathon winner. 

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2010

Sport: Cycling

Borough: Westminster

LYG Story: Represented Westminster in cycling at the London Youth Games. 

Achievements: He won the Tour de France in 2012. He is also one of Britain’s greatest ever Olympic athletes, having won seven Olympic medals including four gold from 2000-2012.  Also a multiple World champion on track and road. 

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2010

Sport: Football

Borough: Brent

LYG Story: Represented Brent in football at the London Youth Games. 

Achievements: Winner of every domestic honour in the game, part of the all-conquering 2007 Arsenal Ladies team and the first English club ever to win the UEFA Women’s Cup. Winner of 129 international caps for England, she became the most capped player ever to play for England. She was also part of the GB team in 2012 London Olympics. She is now first team coach for London Bees. 

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2011

Sport: Diving

Borough: Waltham Forest

LYG Story: A multiple London Youth Games medallist for Waltham Forest.

Achievements: Won Olympic silver with partner Leon Taylor at Athens 2004. He also won Commonwealth gold and silver in a superb international career. 

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2013