OF the more than 28,000 athletes from 95 countries around the globe that competed at this year’s World Masters Games in Sydney only two can lay claim to owning a Bronze Medal from the 35 to 39 years men’s K2 1000m.
Cootamundra’s Michael Murphy is one of the two.
Michael and his close mate Stephen Paget of Sydney stood upon the presentation dais after finishing third in the one kilometre event which, according to Michael, was raced in terrible conditions.
“It was so windy and choppy,” Michael said referring to the Penrith Whitewater Stadium, the venue for several events during the 2000 Olympics.
“Normally with a headwind it’s not too bad, but there was a strong cross wind blowing which made conditions very difficult.”
Michael doesn’t regard himself as a competitive paddler, however his passion for the sport has seen him hit the water in many varied locations including Nepal, New Zealand and North Queensland.
“I was actually going to the Masters Games to compete in the 10km road race, but I injured my leg in motor bike an accident around a week before,” he said.
“I was very disappointed as I had done a lot of training in preparation and was in pretty good shape until then.”
Included in his training regime was a tilt at this year’s City to Surf which Michael completed in the very respectable time of around 70 minutes.
“Luckily for me, Steve had talked me into competing in the 1000m and 500m K2s so despite the injury I was still able to be a part of the Games,” he said.
“To actually walk into the Olympic Stadium for Opening Ceremony was something I won’t forget and there was such a
positive vibe around all the Games venues.
Michael admits he and Steve’s time in the 1000m wasn’t as good as they would have liked stating they were more competitive in the 500m despite finishing out of the medals.
“We weren’t far off the crew who finished third, but on a performance alone our 500m effort was better than our 1000m,” he said.
Michael’s performances are all the more remarkable given the fact he has had limited, almost to the point of no chance, to train in the lead up to his events.
“Steve races regularly and would train three or four times a week with the Lane Cove Club in Sydney,” he said.
“I’ve only been in the boat three times over the last 12 months, one of which was at the Games.”
Michael added another slice of Sydney Olympics nostalgia as the boat he is referring to was actually used in the 2000 Games.
“Steve bought it off a bloke who had bought it off one of the
competitors in Sydney so it’s nice to say I have competed in an Olympics boat,” he said.
For the uneducated, two man kayaks weigh in around the 12 to 15kg mark and are asked to carry competitors whose combined weight can be more than 10 times that amount.
“They can be a bit tricky,
especially in rough conditions like the ones we experienced at the Games,” he said.
Having moved to Coota more than six years ago, Michael has become an active member of the local Apex Club.
Now his Apexian mates can lay claim to having a World Masters medalist in their midst.
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