Who is Andy Murray? Sports Personality of the Year 2016, knight and tennis world number one


WHEN was the last time a Brit had such a year of sporting brilliance as Andy Murray?

The Scot was odds-on to complete a hat-trick of BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards after winning in 2013 and 2015 – and sure enough he won the title again in 2016.

His year has been rounded off by the announcement that he is to receive a knighthood in the New Year’s Honours List – Sir Andy Murray.

Andy Murray celebrates winning the ATP Tour Final as he displaces Novak Djokovic as world No1
Andy Murray celebrates winning the ATP Tour Final as he displaces Novak Djokovic as world No1
EPA

Murray, 29, lifted the Wimbledon title for the second time, retained his Olympic crown and finally displaced Novak Djokovic as world No1.


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Bookies had Murray as the SPOTY favourite even before he beat Djokovic 6-3 6-4 in the ATP World Tour Final.

Where is he from?

Murray was born in Glasgow, not Dunblane as commonly thought.

But he grew up in that small city and went to Dunblane Primary School, where he and his brother were present at the 1996 Dunblane school massacre when Thomas Hamilton killed 16 children and a teacher before shooting himself.

Andy Murray followed up his London 2012 Olympic gold with victory at Rio this summer
Andy Murray followed up his London 2012 Olympic gold with victory at Rio this summer
PA:Press Association
Murray perhaps peaked his special year by winning Wimbledon for the second time
Murray perhaps peaked his special year by winning Wimbledon for the second time
Getty Images - WireImage
Andy Murray is the proud No1 after ending a long reign at the top by Novak Djokovic
Andy Murray is the proud No1 after ending a long reign at the top by Novak Djokovic
Getty Images
Andy Murray has been rewarded for his supreme commitment by reaching the top of the world
Andy Murray has been rewarded for his supreme commitment by reaching the top of the world
Getty Images

What else do we know about him?

Murray is fourth in the all-time list of tennis earners, accruing more than £44million so far,.

Apart from winning Wimbledon twice, he lifted the US Open title in 2012.

This year he was a first-time finalist in the French Open and a fifth-time loser at the same stage of the Australian Open.

The son of tennis coach and pundit Judy Murray, his elder brother Jamie is half of the world No1 men’s doubles pairing.

He suspects at least some of his renowned competitive spirit comes from his parents splitting when he was 10.

And five years later he turned down an offer to train with Rangers FC to focus on tennis training, mainly on clay courts in Barcelona.

Murray married Kim Sears, his girlfriend of 10 years, at Dunblane Cathedral in 2015,


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