Yvonne Murray
Encyclopedia
Yvonne Murray MBE
(born 4 October 1964 in Musselburgh
, married name Yvonne Murray-Mooney), is a Scottish
former middle-distance and long-distance track and road-running
athlete
. She won a bronze medal in the 3000 metres
at the 1988 Olympic Games
, and gold medals at this distance at the 1993 World Indoor Championships
and the 1990 European Championships. She also won a gold medal in the 10,000 metres at the 1994 Commonwealth Games
.
in Edinburgh
for the 3000 m. She then went on to win the bronze medal
at the 1986 European Championships
. In 1987, she was the European indoor champion at 3000 m. At the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul
, she won a bronze medal for the 3000 m. In 1989, she won an excellent victory at a Grand prix in the 3000 m, and then added a World Cup victory to this. In 1990, she won a gold medal at the European Championships for the 3000 m. It was almost two major golds that year, but at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland
, she was pipped by one second in the 3000 m by Angela Chalmers
of Canada
. However, she beat her countrywoman Liz McColgan
in that race. In 1993, Murray won a gold medal at the World Indoor Championships, again over 3000 m. Then in 1994, she won silver at the European Championships, and then went on to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games, this time for the 10,000 m.
Murray was five-time Scottish outdoor champion. She was a UK champion at 3000 metres 1985 and 1987, and at 5000 metres
in 1983. She was five-time AAA champion outdoors, and AAA indoor champion in 1984.
Murray was awarded an MBE
in 1990. She was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame
on 12 March 2007.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 4 October 1964 in Musselburgh
Musselburgh
Musselburgh is the largest settlement in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, six miles east of Edinburgh city centre.-History:...
, married name Yvonne Murray-Mooney), is a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former middle-distance and long-distance track and road-running
Road running
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...
athlete
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
. She won a bronze medal in the 3000 metres
3000 metres
The 3000 metres is a popular amateur middle distance track event where 7.5 laps are completed around a 400 metre track. This event is generally classified as middle distance, but it could be classed as a long distance event in many high schools, since they do not promote races such as the 5000 and...
at the 1988 Olympic Games
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
, and gold medals at this distance at the 1993 World Indoor Championships
1993 IAAF World Indoor Championships
The 4th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held at the Skydome in Toronto, Canada from March 12 to March 14, 1993. It was the last Indoor Championships to feature the 5,000 and 3,000 metres race walk events. In addition, it was the first Indoor Championships to include heptathlon and...
and the 1990 European Championships. She also won a gold medal in the 10,000 metres at the 1994 Commonwealth Games
1994 Commonwealth Games
The 1994 Commonwealth Games were held in Victoria, in the province of British Columbia in Canada, from 18 August to 28 August 1994.The XV Commonwealth Games marked South Africa's return to the Commonwealth Games following the apartheid era, and over 30 years since the country last competed in the...
.
Biography
Murray won the bronze medal at the 1986 Commonwealth Games1986 Commonwealth Games
The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
for the 3000 m. She then went on to win the bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
at the 1986 European Championships
1986 European Championships in Athletics
The 14th European Athletics Championships were held from 26 to 31 August 1986 at the Neckarstadion in Stuttgart, a city in West Germany.-Track:1978 | 1982 | 1986 | 1990 | 1994-Field:1978 | 1982 | 1986 | 1990 | 1994-Track:...
. In 1987, she was the European indoor champion at 3000 m. At the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, she won a bronze medal for the 3000 m. In 1989, she won an excellent victory at a Grand prix in the 3000 m, and then added a World Cup victory to this. In 1990, she won a gold medal at the European Championships for the 3000 m. It was almost two major golds that year, but at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, she was pipped by one second in the 3000 m by Angela Chalmers
Angela Chalmers
Angela Chalmers is a retired Canadian track and field athlete who competed in the 1500 m and 3000 m....
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. However, she beat her countrywoman Liz McColgan
Liz McColgan
Elizabeth McColgan MBE is a Scottish former middle-distance and long-distance track and road-running athlete. She won the gold medal for the 10,000 metres at the 1991 World Championships, and a silver medal over the same distance at the 1988 Olympic Games...
in that race. In 1993, Murray won a gold medal at the World Indoor Championships, again over 3000 m. Then in 1994, she won silver at the European Championships, and then went on to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games, this time for the 10,000 m.
Murray was five-time Scottish outdoor champion. She was a UK champion at 3000 metres 1985 and 1987, and at 5000 metres
5000 metres
The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
in 1983. She was five-time AAA champion outdoors, and AAA indoor champion in 1984.
Murray was awarded an MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1990. She was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame
Scottish Sports Hall of Fame
The Scottish Sports Hall of Fame is the national sports hall of fame in Scotland, initiated on St Andrew's Day 2001. It is a joint project organised by sportscotland, the national governmental body for Scottish sport, and the National Museums of Scotland. It is also funded by BBC Scotland and...
on 12 March 2007.