Stephen Murray (BMX rider)

Last updated

Stephen Murray
Personal information
Full nameStephen Murray
NationalityBritish
Born (1980-01-09) 9 January 1980 (age 45)
Newcastle, England
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight208 lb (94 kg)
SpouseMelissa Murray
Children2 sons
Website www.stysrg.com/stephen.html
Sport
SportBMX Dirt
DisabilityParalysis
Medal record
Representing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Summer X Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2001 Philadelphia BMX Dirt
Gravity Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2001 ProvidenceBMX Dirt
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2002 ClevelandBMX Dirt
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg2004 ClevelandBMX Dirt
Updated on 14 December 2016

Stephen Murray (born 9 January 1980) is an English former BMX Dirt rider.

Contents

Biography

On Friday 22 June 2007, at the AST Dew Tour BMX Dirt Finals in Baltimore, Murray took a catastrophic fall attempting a double backflip on the final jump in the dirt section. He suffered career-ending injuries to his spinal cord and vertebrae, and became paralyzed below the shoulders. Reports have shown that he can shrug his shoulders, move his toes, his index fingers, and his thumbs. [1]

Murray was a seven-time expert British champion and six-time UK National champion before the age of 16. During his professional BMX career, he was known for his double back flips (the first rider to land in competition), 360 back flips, and turndown back flips. He won the gold medal in BMX Dirt in the Summer 2001 X Games and won gold medals in BMX Dirt at the Gravity Games in back-to-back years (2001 and 2002). He was nominated for ESPN 'BMX rider of the year'.

Since the accident, Murray worked closely with the doctor who treated Christopher Reeve after the actor's accident left him quadriplegic. He now has limited movement in his toes and is also gaining more movements in his hands. He hopes to move to a hand-operated wheelchair in the future.

He is no longer married, but has full custody of his two sons. He resides in Evesham, England.

Murray appeared on the True Geordie Podcast to talk openly about his experience, and the journey of his life. His motivations and dealing with the crash were explored as well.

In 2017, he published a book about his life: Staying Strong: An Immensely Human Story (with John F. McDonald, Lee Martin). [2]

ESPN

BMX Championships

X Games competition history

Gold medal blank.svg GOLD (1) Silver medal blank.svg SILVER (0) Bronze medal blank.svg BRONZE (0)
YEARX GAMESEVENTSRANKMEDAL
2001Summer X Games VIIBMX Dirt1st Gold medal blank.svg
2002Summer X Games VIIIBMX Dirt11th
2003Summer X Games IXBMX Dirt4th
2004Summer X Games XBMX Dirt10th

Gravity Games

YEARGRAVITY GAMESLOCATIONEVENTSRANKMEDAL
2001Gravity Games IIIProvidence, RIBMX Dirt1st Gold medal blank.svg
2002Gravity Games IVCleveland, OHBMX Dirt1st Gold medal blank.svg
2003Gravity Games VCleveland, OHBMX Dirt10th
2004Gravity Games VICleveland, OHBMX Dirt3rd Bronze medal blank.svg

References

  1. "Stephen Murray Update Part 2". Fat BMX. fatbmx.com. 21 October 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2007.
  2. Murray, Stephen (2017). Staying Strong: An Immensely Human Story. Gatecrasher Books. ISBN   9780995751514.
  3. "TG podcast". YouTube. 20 September 2017. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2017.