Retiring Andy Murray hailed as ‘special Olympian’ and inspiration to Team GB

Andy Murray has been hailed as an all-time British Olympic great who helped turn Team GB into a superpower after he announced his tennis retirement following the Paris Games.

The 37-year-old revealed the news on his X account after arriving at the Paris 2024 Olympics for what is now his last tournament following an emotional Wimbledon farewell earlier this month.

Murray had told a tearful Centre Court that he did not want to stop, but one of the greatest careers in British sports history will now end at his fifth Olympic Games when he will play in both the singles and doubles events.

“What he has given to Great Britain and the British Olympic team, and the tennis family, has been nothing short of extraordinary,” said Mark England, Team GB’s chef de mission in Paris. “He’s been a real captain and leader, not just for the sport of tennis, but for every single athlete in Team GB.”

Murray won the Olympic singles titles in 2012 and 2016, when he also carried the Great Britain flag at the opening ceremony, and won a mixed doubles silver in London with Laura Robson.

England particularly emphasised how, despite his star status, Murray insisted on no special treatment and wanted to stay in the Olympic Village with athletes from other sports.

“He has that gravitas among his peers that very, very few people have,” said England. “He’s a very special individual, a very special man and not just a special Olympian who will always have Team GB in his heart. We will always have him in our heart. The Olympic village is pretty basic in comparison to what a lot of people are used to - but he chooses to come and be part of Team GB.”

Murray posted on X:

It remains to be seen whether Murray will play both men’s and mixed doubles ahead of Thursday’s draw for Paris 2024’s tennis competitions.

There will, however, definitely be no repeat of the controversy that broke out at Wimbledon when he was denied a mixed-doubles swansong after playing partner Emma Raducanu withdrew from the event. Raducanu has already chosen not to represent Team GB at Roland Garros following multiple surgeries last year.

Murray broke new ground for British men’s tennis in the Open Era, becoming the country’s first grand slam men’s singles champion for 76 years when he won the US Open in 2012, and its first Wimbledon men’s singles champion for 77 years the following summer, before leading Great Britain to their first Davis Cup triumph for 79 years in 2015.

He also won Wimbledon again, before sealing back-to-back Olympic titles and becoming world number one.