Category Archives: Lawrence Okoye

Trinity roar their way into second Twickenham cup final

A Croydon school features in the showpiece finale to the rugby season for the fourth time in succession, with their three England call-ups bidding to retain the RFU Schools Cup. Semi-final photos by LEO WILKINSON Trinity are back in Twickenham … Continue reading

Posted in Elliot Daly, Lawrence Okoye, Rugby Union, Schools, Sport, Trinity School, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Okoye makes history with European discus bronze medal

Croydon Harrier Lawrence Okoye made history in Munich last night when he became the first British man ever to win a discus medal at the European athletics championships. The 6ft 6in sometime NFL defensive lineman was reduced to tears after … Continue reading

Posted in Athletics, Croydon Harriers, Herne Hill Harriers, Lawrence Okoye, Sport, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Okoye makes giant comeback with Olympic qualifying mark

Nearly a decade since he stepped into the circle for the discus final at London 2012, and Lawrence Okoye looks set to return to the Olympics in Tokyo next month. Having made an athletics comeback after his misadventures in American … Continue reading

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Councillor claims: We can’t afford to reopen Arena stadium

Track where Olympic stars Donna Fraser, Martyn Rooney and Lawrence Okoye began their track and field careers is under threat after covid-19, as senior council figure claims it could cost £200,000 to reopen Oliver Lewis, the council cabinet member, last … Continue reading

Posted in Athletics, Croydon Council, Croydon FC, Croydon Harriers, Cycling, Football, Lawrence Okoye, Martyn Rooney, Oliver Lewis, Sport, Tony Newman, Uncategorized, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Harriers’ Okoye steps back into the circle at Olympic Stadium

Seven years after competing in the Olympic discus final, Croydon Harrier Lawrence Okoye is set to make his return to the sport in the London Stadium at tomorrow’s Anniversary Games televised international meeting. Okoye quit track and field athletics in … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 Olympics, Athletics, Croydon Harriers, Lawrence Okoye, Sport | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Whitgift School’s Olympic hero Okoye is arrested in Alabama

Lawrence Okoye, the former Whitgift School pupil and discus finalist at the  London Olympics who went to the United States to seek his fortune as an American football player, was arrested in Alabama last week on soliciting prostitution charges, placing … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 Olympics, Athletics, Croydon Harriers, Lawrence Okoye, Rugby Union, Sport, Whitgift School | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Lally defies Olympic selectors to realise her lifelong dream

IAN LAMONT interviews a south London athlete who has overcome illness, depression and disappointment to drive her into becoming one of the world’s best discus throwers. Main photograph by IAN STRATTON Jade Lally can put four years of hurt behind … Continue reading

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Okoye goes on the offensive to save his American dream

Three years ago, he was a poster boy of the London Olympics. National record-holder in the discus in his first senior season, and qualifying for the final of a throws event at the 2012 Games, with a scholarship to study … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 Olympics, Athletics, Elliot Daly, Lawrence Okoye, Marland Yarde, Sport, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Croydon Harriers sprinter becomes four-try rugby star

Croydon Harriers recently lost one of their biggest talents – physically and metaphorically – to another sport, when British discus record-holder Lawrence Okoye signed up for the San Francisco 49ers American football team. Could they be about to lose another … Continue reading

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Thousands expected on touchline for annual schools clash

RUGBY ROUND-UP: It may be a Heineken Cup weekend, and the local rugby clubs might well be staging some important league fixtures tomorrow. But the real match of the day as far as Croydon sport is concerned kicks off at … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon RFC, Elliot Daly, John Fisher School, Lawrence Okoye, Marland Yarde, Old Mid-Whitgiftians/Trinity RFC, Old Walcountians, Old Whitgiftians, Purley-John Fisher, Rugby Union, Schools, Sport, Streatham-Croydon RFC, Warlingham RFC, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Local athletes running scared of county championships

The Surrey championships used to be a highlight of local athletes’ year, and they used to be staged at Croydon Arena. IAN LAMONT witnessed the 2013 edition at Kingston at the weekend where despite last year’s London Olympics successes, there … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 Olympics, Athletics, Croydon Harriers, Herne Hill Harriers, Lawrence Okoye, South London Harriers, Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Adonis” Okoye signs NFL deal with San Francisco 49ers

From Croydon Arena to Candlestick Park: Waddon’s Olympic discus thrower Lawrence Okoye announced last night that he has been signed as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers NFL team. “Proud to announce that I will be signing with … Continue reading

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Okoye looks to spin his career for the lure of NFL draft

By Ian Lamont Hearing Lawrence Okoye, the British record-holder in the discus, describe gridiron as “football” was somewhat strange – especially as he seems to want to raise its profile in Britain, where the word has a completely different meaning. … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 Olympics, Athletics, Lawrence Okoye, Sport, Waddon, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An open letter to Lawrence Okoye: NFL could be a dead-end

Dear Lawrence, Interesting piece in the Sunday papers about you and the NFL. I’d just ask: “Why?” You are already a local hero, and a national hero, too. By the age of 21, you have managed to be offered a … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 Olympics, Athletics, Lawrence Okoye, Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

England Saxons call up for former Whitgift player Daly

RUGBY ROUND-UP: Elliot Daly yesterday became the latest product of Whitgift School to get a call-up to England colours, when the 20-year-old Wasps centre was named in the Saxons squad. The Saxons are effectively the England B squad, with its … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 Olympics, Chris Robshaw, Lawrence Okoye, Old Mid-Whitgiftians/Trinity RFC, Rugby Union, Sport, Streatham-Croydon RFC, Warlingham RFC, Whitgift School | Leave a comment

Inside Croydon 2012: what our loyal reader’s been reading

The following is the Inside Croydon 2012 Hit Parade, and needs to be read in the “voice” of Alan “Fluff” Freeman. For younger readers, think Smashy and Nicey… It’s the top 20 posts published on this site in the past … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 Olympics, Allders, Athletics, Boris Johnson, Clare Hilley, Croydon 8/8, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace FC, David Osland, East Croydon, Fairfield Halls, Football, Gavin Barwell, Health, History, Inside Croydon, Lawrence Okoye, Restaurants, Roy Hodgson, Rugby Union, Sanderstead, Shirley Oaks Hospital, Sport, Tony Pearson, Tramlink, Transport, Warehouse Theatre, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

25% off tickets: See Britain’s Olympic stars in action

We are delighted to bring you the chance to see some of Britain’s top track and field athletes, including golden Olympic hopes Mo Farah, Dai Greene and Croydon’s very own Lawrence Okoye, competing at Crystal Palace next Friday night, July … Continue reading

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Discus date with destiny for Okoye, the Olympic opportunist

It is a year since the wheels fell off for the discus-throwing juggernaut that is Lawrence Okoye. At 6ft 6in tall and 21-stone, Okoye was in only his first full season as an international discus thrower, and he had known … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 Olympics, Athletics, Croydon Harriers, Lawrence Okoye, Rugby Union, Sport, Waddon, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Croydon trio start to scale the Olympian heights in style

It is, in case you had not noticed, Olympic year, and last weekend saw three local athletes put down strong markers for the London Games, with Martyn Rooney and Lawrence Okoye both setting world-leading performances, and wheelchair racer David Weir … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 Olympics, Athletics, Croydon Harriers, Lawrence Okoye, London-wide issues, Martyn Rooney, Sport, Thornton Heath, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Congratulations to Lawrence Okoye – British record-breaker

Congratulations to Lawrence Okoye, whose transition from rampaging rugby wing to British Olympic discus thrower took another massive bound yesterday when the Croydon Harrier broke the British senior record for his event, throwing 67.63 metres at a meeting at Barnet … Continue reading

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