Samantha Murray Speaker | Sports & Lifestyle & Careers & Women & Assemblies and Celebrations Events

Samantha Murray

Silver Medalist London 2012

Samantha Murray, team GB double Olympian, won the Silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics in the Modern Pentathlon. In 2014, she won individual Gold at the World Championships and also competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics, finishing 9th.

At a young age, Sam rode ponies at her grandparents’ farm and enjoyed competing in local shows. After excelling in athletics at school, Sam joined Blackburn Harriers Athletics Club who she still represents today. Sam learnt to swim at Clitheroe Dolphins Swimming Club and here discovered the Modern Pentathlon. After a taster session in shooting and fencing, Sam joined Ribble Valley Modern Pentathlon Team and at the age of 12, Sam competed in her first Modern Pentathlon. Since 2003, Sam’s progression through the junior and youth competitions showed that she was a talent for the future.

After winning a bronze medal in the 2012 World Cup, she improved her scores and won bronze again at the 2012 World Championships, securing her selection for the Olympic Games. Samantha’s defining moment came at the London 2012 Olympics, where she wrote herself into the history books as Olympic Silver Medallist.

Sam continued her studies as she trained and competed before graduating with a degree in Politics from the University of Bath. Since University Sam has been a full time athlete.

After graduating from University in 2013, Sam competed at the World Championships in 2014, where she became a World Champion. In 2015, she won Gold in the Sarasota World Cup and qualified for the Rio Olympic Games at the World Championships with a 5th place finish. In 2016, Sam finished in 9th place at the Rio Olympic Games.

Testimonials from Teachers

"Samantha was a hard working, determined and fun student at high school. She had dreams and ambitions back then, which have all become a reality thanks to her inspiring approach to obstacles, challenges and set backs that she met along the way. It was a pleasure to teach Samantha and I'm very excited about her future prospects."

– Mrs Valerie Frankland, Retired teacher, Bowland High School

"An phenomenal young women and a fabulous asset to the University of Bath; Samantha is the ideal speaker and role model for students as she has an uncanny ability to connect with her audience and pass on her desired message. A great public speaker and a lovely young woman."

– Professor Dame Glynis Breakwell DBE DL, Vice Chancellor, University of Bath

"Samantha has taken time out of her busy schedule to speak to students about controversial, topical and real-life issues that pupils face- in summer she held Skype sessions with our students to talk about bullying, peer pressures and how to approach the future. Sam came to our school awards evening in November and had the whole school, staff and parents captivated for 45 minutes. She kept us all intrigued as she answered questions from the audience."

– Mrs Patricia McMellon, Mount Carmel High School