Wenatchee’s Erin Murray trying for second Strongwoman world title next month
“Most people are capable of a lot more than they think they are,” says Wenatchee native Erin Murray, who on Dec. 1-3 will be attempting to become the World’s Strongest Woman in her weight class at the Official Strongman Games in Charleston, West Virginia.
Murray is intensely focused on the challenge ahead and at the same time has learned to stay calm as a way of bringing out her best. That calm focus, she believes, will give her the best opportunity to achieve her goal of winning the World’s Strongest Woman title in the 82-kilogram weight class. In 2021, she won the 73-kilogram weight class. She is poised to become the first athlete to win the competition in two different weight classes. It’s been her driving dream for the past three years.
Murray is a living example of that hard work, dedication and a resilient mindset will propel any person to achieve beyond what they once thought was possible. Turn back the clock to her high school days and there is nothing to suggest that she would one day become an accomplished professional athlete.
She has described her younger self as a nerd who shunned competitive athletics in favor of academics and music. In college, the societal pressure to be skinny led to her being diagnosed with an eating disorder. Seeking professional help for this condition, she discovered martial arts and ultimately became enamored with strongman events.
The sport didn’t come easy for her. She recalls feeling quite clumsy as she began her journey to becoming a professional strongwoman athlete. Becoming centered and focused has been her ticket to success in the sport.
“Something I’ve discovered along the journey is that the biggest limitations that we see are the ones we put on ourselves and aren’t actually there,” Murray told. The example she sets is that “what anyone can accomplish is so much bigger than most people would think is possible,” she added.
She’continues to have success by staying focused, calm and determined. Earlier this year, she won the 2023 Amateur Arnold Heavyweight World Championship and also earned the America’s Strongest Woman, both in the 82kg division. Prior to the December Strongman competition, she’ll be one of four American women participating in the World’s Strongest Nation contest in Liverpool, England. This was an opportunity that came up at the last minute but she readily accepted the challenge and is excited to compete.
As for the Official Strongman Games competition and achieving her dream of capturing world titles in two weight classes, she is determined to maintain her focus and concentration. She’s not putting undue pressure on herself because she knows that won’t help her perform.
“If I win, that’s awesome,” she told me. “If I don’t win but I have a good show, I still did some really cool things this year,” Murray added.
Erin Murray brings a level of wisdom, inner peace and perspective to these great personal challenges. She sets a wonderful example of doing one’s best, aiming high, preparing with discipline and intention, and being at peace with whatever happens.
Murray’s recipe for success is universal. Applying those principles can help any person become happier and more successful. To follow Murray’s exploits, find her on Instagram at @e.murray_pro_strongwoman.
