Allan Murray (swimmer)

Allan Murray (born 19 June 1972) is a Bahamian former swimmer who specialized in sprint freestyle events.[1] He is a three-time Olympian (1992, 1996, and 2000), and a top 16 finalist in the 50 m freestyle at his second Olympic appearance in Atlanta. While studying in the United States, Murray was a member of Georgia Bulldogs swimming team under head coach Jack Bauerle.

Allan Murray
Personal information
Full nameAllan Murray
National team Bahamas
Born (1972-07-19) 19 July 1972
Freeport, Bahamas
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight84 kg (185 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClubSwift Swim Club
College teamUniversity of Georgia (U.S.)
CoachAndy Knowles

Career

Early years

Born and raised in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Murray later emerged as the first Bahamian swimmer to reach a summit of worldwide swimming success. He started his sporting career as a resident athlete for the Swift Swim Club, and was trained by his longtime coach Andy Knowles, a former University of Miami swimmer.[2] In 1991, Murray accepted on an athletic scholarship at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, where he majored in mathematics and played for the Georgia Bulldogs swimming and diving team under head coach Jack Bauerle.[3]

Olympic career

Murray made his worldwide debut as a member of the Bahamian squad at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. He placed almost in the "middle-of-the-road" in any of his individual events, finishing twenty-first in the 50 m freestyle (23.35) and forty-third in the 100 m freestyle (52.43).[4][5]

At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Murray made a historic milestone for the Bahamas, as he became the first ever swimmer to reach an Olympic final. In the 50 m freestyle, Murray shared a twelfth-place tie with Brazil's top medal favorite Gustavo Borges, finishing in a joint time of 22.92.[6]

Murray swam for his third time in the 50 m freestyle at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He posted a FINA B-standard of 23.11 from the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.[7] He challenged seven other swimmers in heat five, including Uzbekistan's top favorite Ravil Nachaev. Unable to keep himself in good form, Murray came up short in second place by 0.22 of a second behind Nachaev in 23.34. Murray failed to advance into the semifinals, as he placed thirty-seventh overall in the prelims.[8]

Shortly after his third Olympics, Murray retired from swimming to work as an assistant coach for the Bahamas Swimming Federation.[9]

Personal bests
Event Time
50 m freestyle 22.76
100 m freestyle 50.20

See also

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Allan Murray". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  2. Robb, Sharon (22 July 1991). "Surrounded By Water, Bahamas Slow To Swim". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  3. Minichino, Adam (4 June 2000). "Bulldogs taking Olympics in stride". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  4. "Barcelona 1992: Aquatics (Swimming) – Men's 50m Freestyle Heat 9" (PDF). Barcelona 1992. LA84 Foundation. p. 357. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  5. "Barcelona 1992: Aquatics (Swimming) – Men's 100m Freestyle Heat 5" (PDF). Barcelona 1992. LA84 Foundation. p. 358. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  6. "Atlanta 1996: Aquatics (Swimming) – Men's 50m Freestyle B-Final" (PDF). Atlanta 1996. LA84 Foundation. p. 35. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  7. "Swimming – Men's 50m Freestyle Startlist (Heat 5)" (PDF). Sydney 2000. Omega Timing. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  8. "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 50m Freestyle Heat 5" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 104. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  9. Stubbs, Brent (27 March 2013). "Rbc's Send-Off Reception For Our Carifta Swimmers". Tribune242. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
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