ISLE of Wight skeleton specialist Kim Murray has fleshed out her simple masterplan to qualify for the Beijing Winter Olympics GB team — a pre-season of hard work and race consistency this coming winter.
“Getting to Beijing in 2022 is the goal set firmly in my mind,” said the determined 29 year old, who has been intensifying her training regime this summer in readiness for the challenges ahead.
Kim paid a visit to Gurnard Primary School recently to teach pupils how to hold a good skeleton ‘form’ when racing.
Kim, who has almost completed pre-season, sliding again, will get the new season underway with a GB selection race in Lillehammer, Norway, on Wednesday and Thursday.
“It is a track I really enjoy because it feels like home, due to the amount of runs I’ve done there,” Kim explains.
From Lillehammer, she moves to Winterberg, Germany, for the second and final selection race.
The selection race is vital because it will determine which race circuit she will compete on for the first half of the season, through to Christmas.
Kim Murray, in La Plagne in the French Alps training in December last year.
Last season, Kimberley did the Intercontinental Cup Circuit (ICC), a step up from the Europa circuit, which she did two seasons ago, and involved her racing at some of the world’s most famous ice tracks, such as St Moritz and notorious Canadian venue, Whistler, the world’s fastest track.
“My goals for the selection race are to finish in the top two. I was fourth last year and want to achieve push personal best performances on both tracks,” added Kim, supported by Wightlink.
“While I have had plenty of training in Lillehammer, I’ve spent very little time in Winterberg and will get only six training runs there, so I will need to learn fast and get up to speed with the rest in that short time.
“I’m looking forward to the race season, on either the Europa or ICC circuit.
“I am likely to race in Europe, then in North America and Canada after Christmas, with the World Championships next March.
“While selection for my first World Championships would be fantastic, it is not my primary goal.
“What I’m looking for is consistency. With under four years until the Beijing Winter Olympics, I want to continue to develop as a slider and try to achieve consistent results.
Kim Murray in action last year.
“In the past, I have had very extreme results. However, to perform well at an Olympics demands four consistent runs, so I am aiming to become more consistent now.
“Success this year for me would be a top three on the ICC or top 20 World Cup, depending on which circuit I race, and not have up and down results like last season.”
Follow Kim’s progress on her blog: www.kimberleymurray.com/news-blog/ and her results: www.ibsf.org/en/athletes/athlete/263242/MURRAY
House Rules
We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.
Read the rules here