Gold, Grit, and a Decade of Representing Lambeth
Building Fitness, Focus, and Future Champions
Coach Daryl Cyprien continues to lead our weekly Strength and Conditioning sessions at Brixton Recreation Centre in partnership with Active Lambeth. Daryl's sessions bring together dynamic warm-ups, yoga-based mobility work, and conditioning circuits designed to build more than just physical fitness. Each session works on focus and concentration, core strength and endurance, flexibility and injury prevention, confidence and self-discipline, and the kind of teamwork and peer motivation that matters just as much in life as it does in sport.
This year, that work paid off in a big way.
London Youth Games 2026
Five of our Strength and Conditioning participants were selected as part of a 12-person team to represent the London Borough of Lambeth at this year's London Youth Games and they came back with medals.
A special mention must go to Coach Tida, whose expertise and experience were central to preparing our young people for competition. Tida led the rowing-specific coaching, bringing her deep knowledge of technique and race strategy to the programme and as a bronze medallist at the National Championships, she knows exactly what it takes to compete at the highest level. Her guidance made a real difference.
One participant, who has been part of the Brixton Wings community on and off for over five years, returned to the programme last September and committed fully to his training. That dedication was rewarded with a gold medal in the Year 11 six-minute race. Another participant, who also takes part in our piano and swimming programmes, made his debut at the London Youth Games and came away with a silver medal on his very first appearance. Our other two participants each received bronze medals for their contribution to helping Lambeth secure enough points to finish third in the overall borough standings a fantastic team achievement.
This year also marks a significant milestone. 2026 is our 10th appearance at the London Youth Games Indoor Rowing Competition representing Lambeth and across those ten years we have now accumulated 12 medals in total, spanning individual and relay team events. That is a record we are enormously proud of.
In Their Own Words
The young people said it best themselves:
"During training I felt motivated and my coach helped me to be ready. While rowing I was tired but I wanted it a lot so I kept pushing through. Now I feel relieved and like I've done something good." — Osaze
"I felt good while training and the race was good too but I did get tired." — Manuel
"Coaching was an interesting experience. I've learnt that there are a lot of different aspects that coaches have to take care of. Today I was in charge of making sure the group had warmed up for their races and stretched their muscles to prevent injury. Now I feel proud of myself, as I helped my friend perform at the best they could, which led to three golds and a good overall placement amongst other boroughs." — Duvar
"During training I found it useful as it taught me the basics of rowing. An adult was there to help me and give me advice. During the relay I felt nervous thinking it wasn't going to go well. Thanks to the support of my friends I managed to pull through and still do it. After the relay I felt happy knowing that I did something to help." — Qays
A Programme That Goes Beyond the Track
Ten years. Twelve medals. And a community of young people who keep showing up, putting the work in, and making their borough proud.
But beyond the medals, this programme is about building young people who are physically healthy, mentally resilient, and proud to represent Lambeth and their community. We are incredibly proud of every participant who took part this year, whether they stepped onto the start line, supported their teammates from the sidelines, or simply showed up week after week to put the work in.
The journey continues. Watch this space.
