Is he Britain’s greatest sporting hero? Tennis legend Andy Murray is out for the last time at the Paris Olympics. Fans and players have lined up to praise his talent and spirit.
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The man who never said never
Is he Britain's greatest sporting hero? Tennis legend Andy Murray is out for the last time at the Paris Olympics. Fans and players have lined up to praise his talent and spirit.
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Andy Murray lost the OlympicRelating to the Olympic Games, which take place every four years. match quickly. Yet the crowd cheered him as if he won. They had seen history: the final game of a tennis legendA traditional story told over years and years, but which cannot be proved. .
Murray is one of Britain's best ever sportsmen. He is the only player to win two Olympic gold medals in singlesIn tennis, when a player plays by themselves. Doubles is when two players play as a team. . He won three grand slamsThe Grand Slam tournaments, also known as the majors, are the four most important international professional tennis events. They are the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. . And he was world number one for 41 weeks.
But there was almost always someone better. Murray played at the same time as three of the greatest players of all time: Roger Federer (310 weeks at no 1), Rafael Nadal (209 ), and Novak Djokovic (428).
His personalityThe type of person you are, shown by how you behave, feel and think. did not shine like Federer's. And his style of play was not always beautiful to watch.
Yet Murray had something special: he never gave up. He grew up in ScotlandA country that is part of the United Kingdom. It covers the northern part of the island of Great Britain. , far from other great tennis players. He was injured many times yet kept coming back.
Some say this makes him a perfect hero. We might not have his talentNatural skill. but we can take after his attitudeA feeling or way of behaving. You can have a "good" or "bad" attitude. .
But others would argue that Murray is far from Britain's greatest sportsperson. He has not seen the success of Formula OneThe top international car racing series. driver Lewis Hamilton or footballer David Beckham, for example.
Is he Britain's greatest sporting hero?
Yes! There are others who have been more successful. But it is Murray's drive to be the best and to keep going even in difficult times that make him Britain's greatest sporting hero.
No! Many really want him to be a hero. But in the end, sports stars play to win. And Murray has lost many times throughout his careerA person's progress through different jobs over their lifetime. .
FOR YOUR SUMMER READING CHALLENGE CLUE GO TO STEP SIX IN THE SIX STEPS TO DISCOVERY BELOW.
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Keywords
Olympic - Relating to the Olympic Games, which take place every four years.
Legend - A traditional story told over years and years, but which cannot be proved.
Singles - In tennis, when a player plays by themselves. Doubles is when two players play as a team.
Grand Slams - The Grand Slam tournaments, also known as the majors, are the four most important international professional tennis events. They are the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Personality - The type of person you are, shown by how you behave, feel and think.
Scotland - A country that is part of the United Kingdom. It covers the northern part of the island of Great Britain.
Talent - Natural skill.
Attitude - A feeling or way of behaving. You can have a "good" or "bad" attitude.
Formula One - The top international car racing series.
Career - A person's progress through different jobs over their lifetime.
The man who never said never
Grit: Andy Murray went down fighting to the last in his final match in the quarter-finals of the men’s doubles at the Olympic Games last Thursday. Glossary
Olympic - Relating to the Olympic Games, which take place every four years.
Legend - A traditional story told over years and years, but which cannot be proved.
Singles - In tennis, when a player plays by themselves. Doubles is when two players play as a team.
Grand Slams - The Grand Slam tournaments, also known as the majors, are the four most important international professional tennis events. They are the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Personality - The type of person you are, shown by how you behave, feel and think.
Scotland - A country that is part of the United Kingdom. It covers the northern part of the island of Great Britain.
Talent - Natural skill.
Attitude - A feeling or way of behaving. You can have a "good" or "bad" attitude.
Formula One - The top international car racing series.
Career - A person's progress through different jobs over their lifetime.