VIDEO: Island-born athlete Kim Murray is heading to America next week as her 120kph+ Skeleton training gets fully underway for the winter season, with the goal of competing in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics moving ever closer.
26-year-old Kim from Ryde (pictured center-left) has just returned from Winterberg in Germany where she has been training for the past week. Things didn’t get off to a good start though as weather and track conditions meant she couldn’t slide on her favourite track straight away, where last year she hit an eye-watering 124kph.
Poor track conditions didn’t bring a halt to Kim’s training though as she hit the gym and lifted weights, as well as attending psychology workshops – all part of being an athlete.
Finally, at the last minute, it was said that Kim and her fellow athletes could slide on the Thursday (19th November).
Kim said:
“Over the week we were aiming for 15 runs but only managed 5 due to the cancelled sessions, however it was important for me to get back on the sled as my last camp in Lillehammer got cut short due to injury.
“After the first few runs I felt great on my sled and improved by 4 seconds from run 1 to 5. I had never slid in wet or windy weather before and it was challenging, but a good opportunity to learn what it does to the ice as it could happen in a competition”.
Next Sunday (6th December) the rising star heads to a new track at Lake Placid in New York, which she says is another challenge for her having not learnt a new track so far this season. Kim will then return to Lake Placid in March for her first race in the North America Cup.
“It is an exciting and nerve wracking prospect but this camp will play a crucial part in how I perform on that day”.
Kim now returns to ‘off ice’ training, but when she isn’t training she still works hard on finding ways to fund herself now that she is a full-time athlete.
Earlier this month Island Echo reported on Kim’s efforts to raise £2000 through the crowdfunding website PledgeSports, a target which has been smashed with a total of £2215 already donated.
Speaking about the crowdfunding campaign, Kim said:
“I cannot thank each and every supporter enough, including so many from the Isle of Wight.
“I set my target not knowing how the campaign would be received. The target of £2000 that I set does not cover my living costs, but does contribute to them massively.
“I am still seeking support and am offering a variety of rewards in return including meeting or training with me, social media shout outs, a monthly newsletter and appearances which can be motivational or educational depending on your needs”.
You can support Kim via PledgeSports until 6th December by visiting https://www.pledgesports.org/projects/kimberley-murray-beijing-2022-winter-olympics/.
Island Echo will continue to bring you updates of Kim’s training throughout the season
