Lenda Murray
Lenda Murray | |
---|---|
Best win | |
Predecessor | Cory Everson Juliette Bergmann Iris Kyle[1] |
Successor | Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls Iris Kyle[1] |
Active | Retired 2004[1] |
Lenda Murray (born 22 February 1962) is an American professional female bodybuilding champion.[1]
Early life and education
Murray was born in 1962 in
After a brief tenure cheerleading for the Michigan Panthers in the now-defunct United States Football League, she worked with the Michigan Panthers for two years and then was invited to try out for the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. After she auditioned for the group and made the next-to-last cut, she decided she might need to slenderize her thighs a bit.[4]
Bodybuilding career
Amateur career
In 1984, Murray joined a gym, the Powerhouse Gym, in Highland Park, Michigan. Within the first two days of joining the gym, Ron Love, an NPC Nationals contender told her that she had the physique to be a bodybuilder. After about a year of training to just stay in shape, Murray decided to compete in the 1985 Ms. Michigan Championships.[5] After placing fourth, she was hooked on the sport. Murray's father did not show up for her first bodybuilding competition, but eventually did for others.[6] She rose quickly through the ranks, soon winning contests at the state and regional levels. In 1989, Murray earned her professional status at the IFBB North American Championships.[1]
Professional career
1990–1997
Murray soon became a regular presence in bodybuilding magazines and a favorite subject of photographer
First retirement
Murray lost the Ms. Olympia title to Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls in 1996, and went into retirement after finishing second to Chizevsky-Nicholls again in December 1997.[1][8]
2002–2004
Lenda, after Lonnie Teper left a voice message telling her to compete again, started thinking of coming out of retirement. She thought she could beat Juliette Bergman and thought it was sign when they choose Juliette over Iris Kyle in 2001.[9] After four years of retirement, Lenda returned to the Ms. Olympia stage, and won two more Ms. Olympia titles in 2002 and 2003.[1] Her coach was Chad Nicholls, a former bodybuilder, drug and nutrition guru and coach for his wife, Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls, along with professional bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman.[10][11][12]
Second retirement
Murray finished second in the heavyweight class to Iris Kyle in 2004, and again retired from competition.[1]
Legacy
Murray has won eight overall Ms. Olympia titles and has two professional wins in her weight class. She is the second most successful female bodybuilder ever, second only to Iris Kyle.[1] From February 28, 2003 to May 31, 2003, she ranked 1st on the IFBB Women's Bodybuilding Professional Ranking List.[13][14]
Murray has previously done commentary for bodybuilding events on ESPN from 1993 to 1996. She was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2010 and the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.[15] In March 2011, she became a member of the National Fitness Hall of Fame and received the award from Arnold Schwarzenegger.[16] Every year there is an NPC competition, held at Norfolk State University, called the Lenda Murray Bodybuilding, Figure and Bikini Championships, which she is a promoter and organizer for.[6][8]
Murray is also spokesperson for Wings of Strength and she owns a nutritional products company Crystal Planet Nutrition.[17]
Competition history
- 1985 NPC Michigan State - 4th
- 1985 NPC Eastern Michigan - 1st
- 1986 NPC Michigan - 3rd
- 1986 NPC Ironwoman Michigan - 3rd
- 1987 NPC Michigan - 3rd
- 1987 NPC North Coast - 2nd
- 1988 NPC Michigan - 1st
- 1989 NPC Junior Nationals - 1st (HW and overall)
- 1989 IFBBNorth American Championships - 1st (HW and overall)
- 1990 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
- 1991 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
- 1992 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
- 1993 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
- 1994 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
- 1995 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
- 1996 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 2nd
- 1997 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 2nd
- 2002 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st (HW and overall)
- 2003 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st (HW and overall)
- 2004 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 2nd (HW)[1]
Best statistics
- Biceps - 16 inches (41 cm)[18]
- Chest - 39 inches (99 cm)[18]
- Height - 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)[19]
- On season weight - 151+1⁄2–153 lb (68.7–69.4 kg)[20][21]
Personal life
Murray is single and lives in
Murray has done many videos to help others in their pursuit of fitness, been a professional cheerleader, a physical fitness trainer, a private trainer to professional wrestlers, athletes and others, along with trying out to become a professional wrestler for the
Television appearances
Murray has appeared on daytime talk shows like
Murray also done an interview for the
Movie appearances
In 2015, Murray appeared in Adam Sandler's The Ridiculous 6 where she played (Terry Crews's character) Chico's mother.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Female Bodybuilding Interview of the Month
- ^ Lenda Murray Female Bodybuilder Biography
- ^ 8 Time Ms. Olympia Lenda Murray
- ^ The Free Lance-Star, December 11, 1992, p. D2. Retrieved on June 19, 2013.
- ^ "Mitos do Bodybuilding: Lenda Murray".
- ^ a b c d e f Hall of Fame Bodybuilder and Grandmother Still Flexing
- ^ Ms. Olympia Turns 30
- ^ a b c Lenda Murray Ms Olympia 8 x World Champion
- ^ LENDA MURRAY OPENS UP ABOUT THE 1991 MS. OLYMPIA CONTROVERSY
- ^ "Bodybuilders dying as coaches and judges encourage extreme measures". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2023-03-28.
- ^ Rambod, Farrah and Nicholls set to battle it out at the Olympia
- ^ Muscle: A Writer's Trip Through a Sport with No Boundaries
- ^ IFBB Women's Bodybuilding Professional Ranking List
- ^ IFBB Women's Bodybuilding Professional Ranking List
- ^ Dr. Robert Goldman (March 13, 2015). "2015 International Sports Hall of Fame Inductees". www.sportshof.org. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
- ^ Class of 2010
- ^ Interview with Lenda Murray
- ^ a b LENDA MURRAY
- ^ 8x Ms. Olympia Lenda Murray: From Cheerleader To One Of The Greatest Female Bodybuilders Of All Time
- ^ "FLASH REPORT". billdobbins.com. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
- ^ "FLASH REPORT". billdobbins.com. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
- ^ About
- ^ Lenda Murray
- ^ "Where is Ex-Miss Olympia Lenda Murray Now?". 3 November 2022.
Sources
- Todd, Jan, "Lenda Murray", St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture, Gale Group, 1999