Who Am I?
Andy Murray was born in Scotland and started playing tennis when he was only three years old. Whilst still at primary school, tragedy struck. An armed man broke into his school in Dunblane and shot and killed 16 children and a teacher. Andy hid and was unhurt, but this awful incident stayed with him his whole life.
He was just 18 when he turned professional, and by 2009, he was number two in the world. As well as winning many matches, he also experienced many defeats over the years and learned from them.
What Am I Known For?
He is now known as Britain’s most successful tennis player, having reached 11 major finals, winning two Olympic gold medals and three Grand Slam titles. His biggest achievement was when he won the Wimbledon Men’s Single title in 2013. It was the first time a Briton had won in 77 years!
Andy Murray showed his open-mindedness when he employed Amelie Mauresmo (a former world number one female tennis player) to be his coach. He has been called ‘the unexpected champion of women’s sport’ and continues to argue that male and female athletes should receive equal pay and recognition for their efforts.
He is also known for throwing the odd tantrum on the tennis court and has himself acknowledged this display of temper, stating that showing his emotions in this way is seen as a weakness. Therefore, he was open to taking a more guarded approach.
In January 2019, he tearfully announced his likely retirement from tennis at the end of the summer, following several years of issues with his hip. However, he had surgery, and after training hard, he was incredibly able to make a comeback in June of that year. His perseverance in not shying away from challenges and his enduring spirit and passion for his sport make him a true champion in every sense of the word.
He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2013. In 2017, he was knighted and is now called Sir Andy Murray.
Andy has used his fame and influence to support Malaria No More UK. Malaria is still the biggest killer in Africa.
How About You?
How do you keep persevering when the going gets tough? Create a poster of all the ideas you have and keep it somewhere you can see it.
Open-mindedness means that you enjoy difference and are open to different people and ideas. What action can you take to actively be more open to difference this week?
Other Amazing People (you can find them on the website)
To read about another inspirational sportsperson, head to our Amazing People Library and read, watch or listen to Lily Parr and Abebe Bikila’s stories. Lily was a pioneering footballer who began playing in the 1920s. Abebe Bikila was an Olympic marathon runner who continued competing even after becoming paralysed in a car accident.
Other Useful Resources (available on the website)
Other Amazing People of Scotland are featured in our Diverse Voices resource. Subscribers can find this helpful resource by logging in. If you are not a subscriber, you can access this resource, and many more, by starting a free trial.
Photo: Yann Caradec, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia