Training in Szolnok As we approach the halfway point in our eight week stint in Szolnok I thought it was about time to do a quick update. On the training front things are progressing along as you might expect... Lots of kilometres travelled and many litres of perspiration expired. To use a few cliches - We're all doing our best to tick all the boxes and leave no stone unturned so that, come London, we can all put our best foot forward and leave nothing in the tank which will hopefully enable us to come away with the win... Or something along those lines. In other news, we've had a few little...

Read More

[Ed: An update from the Muzz himself ...] Moscow The final World Cup and last regatta before the Olympics was held in Moscow (1-3rd June). Without the depth of the other World Cups it was difficult to use Moscow as a true gauge of form, but it was still beneficial to get some final race experience leading into London (oh and its always nice to get some good results!). Strong cross head winds and cold weather made for some tough racing, but by all accounts London could have similar conditions so it was worth the experience. After three hectic days of racing and 2 silvers (K1 1000 and k4 1000)...

Read More

Murray has kicked off his 2012 international season in great form - showing anyone who is watching that he's in the mix and is a serious contender for Olympic medals. On a very tough Saturday in Duisberg, Germany, Murray raced two 1,000m finals within an hour, coming 5th and 4th respectively in the K1 1,000m and K4 1,000m. Given that he has just overcome a bout of illness, and is shaking off his international racing cobwebs, these are very solid results. Murray's K4 final was less than an hour after the K1. Anyone who has raced a 1,000m kayak race, or any race in any sport of 3:30mins duration,...

Read More

It has been more than 8 months since Murray last raced at an international level - when he won a silver medal in the K4 1,000m. Since then, his domestic results have been fantastic. This weekend, he gets to put his form to the test against the world's best in Duisberg, Germany. DIfferent athletes and countries play different tactic at the world cup regattas, but it will be a good gauge for Murray on his current form. He has had a good few weeks of training in Germany and is ready to show the Brits, Germans, Hungarians, Bellarussians, and whoever else, that he is a serious contender when the Olympics...

Read More

I know, I know, it's been a while and I've been a slacker on keeping the blog updated. So this post is playing catchup. Some awesome stuff has happened in the last month including Murray: - Being voted the International Canoe Federation's athlete of the month for March!!!! - Showing off his modelling skills, giving Australia a sneak-peak of the 2012 opening ceremony uniform - Leaving for Europe - he won't be home til after the Games! Murray's amazing performances at Nationals and Oceania champs earned him nomination for the ICF Athlete of the Month. He was up against some great competition,...

Read More

Sportscene, the world's leading paddlesports media provider, has come on board as Murray's exclusive media partner! When you think of media content for kayaking, you think of Sportscene. You will have seen their name on race videos and interviews posted on murraystewart.com, as well as Australian Canoeing and other canoeing federations around the world. Sportscene are the world's leading provider of media content relating to paddlesports, and work across the globe, in all different disciplines of the sport. Sportscene's brilliant photography and video, shot through the eyes of experienced paddlers,...

Read More

With four national titles and a nomination to the Australian Olympic team, last weekend could not have gone better for Murray. After qualifying all three of the 1,000m events, Murray incredibly went on to win the K1 200m on Sunday morning. In front of a crowd of his family, friends and supporters, he edged in front of Joel Simpson after the first 15 seconds, and was just too strong and fast through the finish. Unfortunately for Joel, that ends his Olympic campaign for 2012, but for Ken Wallace, Steve Bird and Jesse Phillips, it means that their Olympic places are cemented. Murray knows what...

Read More

Murray and Ken have won the k2 1,000m in a quick time. This means that Muzz has taken a clean sweep of 1,000m events at both Nationals and Oceania champs. Awesome work Big Muzz! Winning the k1, k2 and k4 at both selection trials is an amazing achievement. Not only does this cement Murray as the strongest 1,000m paddler in the country right now (with 3 national titles), but it means that Ken Wallace has qualified for the Olympic team!! With Ken in the k2, it is likely that Dave Smith will be selected in the k4. The whole "Wolf Pack" - Murray's Gold Coast training team - will be going to the games. There...

Read More

He did it, he won!!!! Murray Stewart won the K1 1,000m at National champs today by a huge margin of almost 4 seconds ahead of Ken Wallace and Jake Clear. I am absolutely overwhelmed. Not only is Muzz in the Olympic team, but he's going to get the opportunity to race on his own against the best in the world. There was no weed, there were no arguments, Murray won convincingly today. I cannot describe how I felt after seeing him cross the finish line, and I certainly can't imagine how incredibly relieved / ecstatic / overjoyed / disbelieving Murray must be. Even if he looked relaxed during the race...

Read More

Murray has qualified for the Australian Olympic team!!!! Just after midday today, Murray, Tate Smith, Jake Clear and David Smith won the K4 1,000m at Nationals. This second win is enough to qualify them for nomination as the K4 crew to represent Australia in London. The win was hard-fought, with a margin of only half a boatlength from a solid West Australian team. Take a step back, and remember that Dave Smith has not trained for 5 weeks due to having glandular fever. The selection criteria meant that he had to race today if he wanted to be considered for London. That's ridiculous. How can a guy get into...

Read More