Andy Lewis, 57, a PE teacher from Hither Green, is an unusually talented athlete. Not satisfied with excelling at one sport, he has won awards as a pentathlete, decathlete, long-jumper, and bobsleigh champion, and more recently has moved on to indoor rowing which earned him a silver medal in the 2024 British Championships.
These days, he also competes in ‘Hyrox’, an endurance challenge that involves periods of running interspersed with gruelling physical activities such as throwing a medicine ball at a target 100 times.
As if that wasn’t enough, apart from his own fitness regime and working at a secondary school in Bexleyheath, he also coaches athletics at the Alex Yee Ladywell Arena in Lewisham. “I love all kinds of training,” he comments. “It keeps me off the streets!”
Andy is currently helped in his sporting endeavours by Lewisham’s Sport Foundation (GSF). The Foundation is run by charitable social enterprise GLL – which operates ‘Better’ leisure centres in Lewisham and across the UK in partnership with local authorities – and is the UK’s largest independent athlete support programme.
The award allows him free use of the facilities at any Better leisure centre plus access to physiotherapy and psychological support if needed.
Past recipients of GSF funding include Tom Daley, Ellie Simmonds and Lewisham’s very-own Alex Yee.
Andy’s son, Myles, 19, has also inherited the sporting genes and is forging his own career as a footballer. He currently plays for SC Thamesmead’s under-23 team and was invited to try-out at Maidstone (though the match was cancelled). He is also supported by the GSF and is hoping to become professional.
The window for applying to the Sport Foundation this year closes on 20 February and Andy urges other south London athletes to step forward for support. “The Foundation is a fantastic opportunity, especially for young people who are following ‘stepping stones’ towards their goals,” he says. “Spread the word!”
For information on how to apply, please visit – https://www.gllsportfoundation.org/
