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Yvonne Murray MBE - Athlete
Yvonne is a Runner, a Commonwealth and European Gold medal winner and also a Bronze Olympic winner. Awarded an MBE in 1990, Yvonne is from Musselburgh in East Lothian where she was a Brownie."Never give up on your dreams - dare to be different."
Scotland and being Scottish...
Along the beach in Musselburgh where I grew up and where my running career started. I still do that today when I get the chance.
My proudest moment in athletics would have to be winning the Olympic Bronze medal in Seoul, Korea in 1988 over 3000m. Also winning the Commonwealth Games Gold Medal over 10,000m in Victoria, Canada in 1994.
Yes, many times but I knew that when the doubts and the discomfort kicked in that I could deal with it because I had prepared for that moment in training. My motto is:- IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN, YOU PLAN TO FAIL.
To have fun, keep fit, make new friends and to try all sports before specialising in one in particular. Above all else never give up on your dreams - dare to be different.
I learned to always treat people the way I would like to be treated. To help and support others in need.
I would have to say Dame Kelly Holmes (Double Gold Medallist Olympic Games, Athens 2004) because
having shared a room with her on many occasions and watched her come back from injury time after
time, never giving up on her dream of becoming the worlds best.
She is truly an amazing person who has shown that we should never give up on our dreams and
with dogged perseverance and patience we can achieve our goals.
I would say that to be a successful athlete you have to be:
- dedicated
- determined
- have a vision of where you want to go and when (short and long term goals)
- a great deal of patience
- a sense of fair play
- ability to help and think of others
Spending quality time with my 4 year old daughter, painting, baking or just reading a story with her.
A phrase that I have remembered over the years is: The best is yet to be so do it well.
I would give it to Coeliac UK a charity
that looks after people suffering from Gluten intolerance. My daughter was diagnosed with Coeliac
Disease last year. It is an autoimmune disease which is controlled by diet.
Sufferers have to remain on a gluten free diet for life in order to stay healthy. If they don't
they are at risk of bowel cancer and osteoporosis. It's hard when your child can't have the
things that most people take for granted like cakes, biscuits, sweets, sausages, burgers, pasta,
pizzas and bread etc.
To find out more about Yvonne please see www.scottishathletics.org.uk/
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