Andy Murray was recently named the United Kingdom’s greatest all-time sportsperson in a poll carried out by Telegraph Sport. Votes were cast by 7,000 Telegraph subscribers in addition to Telegraph correspondents and 13 sporting experts, resulting in a list of the UK’s top 100 greatest athletes.
Murray is a three-time Grand Slam champion, having triumphed at the 2012 U.S. Open in addition to two Wimbledon titles (2013, 2016). He has also won each of the last two Olympic gold medals (London 2012, Rio 2016). The 29-year-old Scot became No. 1 in the world for the first time in his career this fall and he clinched the year-end top spot by beating Novak Djokovic in the championship match at the World Tour Finals.
“I am honored to receive this award,” Murray commented. “It means a great deal, particularly when it has been voted on by the public and a panel of sportspeople and journalists I admire and respect.
“When I look at what the other people on the list have achieved, it makes me feel very humble to come out on top. It must have been a very close vote. It’s amazing to look at the names and see just how successful UK sport has been, not just now but going back over the past century and more. It makes you proud to represent the nation. There are some incredible people on the list.”
Included on the panel of sporting experts who voted was former Olympic sprinter Darren Campbell, who said, “Being in the top three of the world would be enough for most people, but for Andy it wasn’t. Finally getting to No. 1 was about turning that adversity into success.”
Former English national team and Manchester United soccer star Sir Bobby Charlton finished second in the voting. Two-time decathlon gold medalist Daley Thompson was third, cricket player Sir Ian Botham came in fourth, and current middle distance runner Mo Farah rounded out the top five. Farah captured gold medals at the London Olympics in 2012 and the Rio Olympics this past summer.
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I can’t believe that he beat out the great soccer star, Bobby Charlton!!
Yay Andy!! Congratulations…
I’m still in moderation!??