Michael Murray

Hometown: Nashville, TN
Sport: Track & Field
Teams: Nashville Illusions Track Club
2011 U.S. Paralympic Track & Field Team

Murray is a young runner who is a strong contender to make the 2012 US Paralympic Games team for the 1500 meter run. In 2010 he won the US Paralympic National title at that distance in Miramar, Florida. In 2011 he represented the US at the International Paralympic Track and Field World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand posting the 9th fastest time in his first international meet. Michael is the first US athlete with an intellectual disability to train and travel with the U.S. Paralymic team in over a decade (following the re-inclusion vote in November 2009.)

Murray recently returned from the INAS Global Games World Championships in Italy where he placed 4th in the 800 meters and 5th in the 400, posting personal best times in each. Murray regularly attends US Paralympic camps and in November 2011 will compete at the Para PanAmerican Games in Guadalajara, Mexico where he will focus on making the Paralympic Qualifying Standard of 4:05.

Micheal is an inspirational athlete who has show he is truly “without limits” as he has been training with and competing against non-disabled athletes at regional and national-level USA Track & Field competitions as a member of the Nashville Illusions Track Club since the age of 9.

Michael has overcome extraordinary challenges but finds running allows him to focus on what’s ahead and live his personal mantra: “It’s not how you start, but how you finish.”

Special thanks to Nashville Illusions Track Club and other members of the local community for helping to offset out-of-pocket expenses for Michael’s trip to the 2011 Global Games in Italy.

Competition Highlights:

*indicates competition against non-disabled athletes

2011 Global Games World Championships, Imperia, Italy

• 4th Place, Men’s 800m
• 5th Place, Men’s 400m

2011 Paralympic World Athletics Championships, New Zealand January 2011

• Micheal came in 13th place missing the final by one place with a PR of 4:18!
• Michael is the first and only athlete with intellectual disability to be invited to travel with the US Paralympic Team to compete at an IPC World Championship.
• Earlier this month Michael ran a blistering 2:03 800m to win a mixed class IPC World Championship warm-up meet.
• Watch Michael compete in the 1500m T20 race on January 25 & final on January 28, 2011 at: ParalympicSport.TV.

2010 US Paralympic Track & Field Nationals, Florida

• 1500m Mens T20 Classification 1st Place 4:21.48

2009 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships, North Carolina

• *4×800 Meter Relay Young Men 6th Place  8:02.01 Nashville Illusions
• 800 Meter Run Ambulatory Boys Disabled Exhibition Run 1st  Place 2:06.44

2009 USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Michigan

• *1500m Run Young Men 17th Place   4:31.52
• *800m  Run Young Men  20th Place  2:04.31
• *4x800m Relay Young Men  3rd Place 7:59.82 Nashville Illusions

2009 USATF Region#6 (TN, NC, SC) Championships, Tennessee

• *1500m Run Young Men 4:24 (only top 3 were posted due to rain conditions)
• *4x100m Relay Young Men 1st Place 8:08.95 National Illusions

2009 USATF Tennessee Association Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships, Tennesse

• *800m Run Young Men  4th Place 2:02.66
  *1500m Run Young Men 3rd Place  4:29.39

News Coverage:

Read Michael’s bio on the U.S. Paralympic website.
Read Michael’s bio on the IPC Athletics website.

Lea Leads Team USA with Two World Championship Gold Medals at Global Games in Italy

October 10, 2011 Washington, DC - Six elite athletes with intellectual disability represented the United States at the INAS Global Games World Championships in Italy from September 24 - October 3. Nearly 700 athletes from 40 countries competed in swimming, athletics, tennis, basketball, indoor soccer, cycling, and table tennis. The Global Games are a major preparatory competition for the London 2012 Paralympic Games where for the first time since 2000 people with intellectual disability will be compete in swimming, table tennis, and athletics.

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Global Games World Championships for Para-Athletes with Intellectual Disability Begins in Italy

September 29, 2011 Loano, Italy — The competition for the team of US athletes at the 2011 INAS/IPC Global Games in Liguria Italy began today when swimmers Leslie Cichocki and Sarah Gilbert took to the water at Palasporte, the 50m outdoor competition pool in Loano, Italy.

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US Athletes Without Limits Head to Italy for Global Games

September 1, 2011 – Athletes Without Limits, a nonprofit dedicated to helping athletes with intellectual disability integrate and accelerate in sport, is proud to announce a strong US National team for the 2011 INAS Global Games. The Games are the world championship for athletes with intellectual disability and a key qualifier in Swimming, Track & Field for London 2012 Paralympic Games. Athletes Without Limits will be leading a team of six athletes to Liguria, Italy, for the prestigious international event that takes place every 4 years...

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Runner Michael Murray Heads to Global Games with Help from Community Sponors

Private sponsorships from friends and local businesses keep Michaels Paralympic Dream alive as the he heads to the 2011 INAS/IPC Global Games in Imperia, Italy. Friends and family members of Michael Murray, the highest ranked track athlete with intellectual disability in the US, spearheaded a local fundraising campaign to help offset Michael’s out-of-pocket expenses for the 2011 Global Games in Italy. The Global Games is an important qualifier for the London 2012 Paralympics and Michael represents the best chance for a US runner to...

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Michael Murray PR’s with US Paralympic Team at IPC Athletics World Championships

Michael is the first American athlete with an intellectual disability to make the US Paralympic Team in over a decade. Watch videos of the men's and women's exciting finals!

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Michael Murray to Compete in IPC Athletics World Championships in New Zealand

January 22-30, 2011: First U.S. athlete with intellectual disability to compete at a Paralympic World Championship in over a decade with hopes of making Team USA for the London 2012 Games. Watch live online January 26 at 6:15pm.

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T20 Class Now Open at US Paralympic Track & Field Nationals

For the first time in over a decade Paralympic opportunities are opening up for athletes with intellectual disability, starting with the men's 1500m for T20 (athletes with intellectual disability) at the upcoming  2010 US Paralympic Track & Field Nationals June 15-20, 2010 in Mirimar Florida.

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