We recently caught up with Murray McConnell to celebrate his remarkable success at last weekend’s EJU Venray Get Together Tournament. Despite losing his sight at the age of nine, Murray has demonstrated incredible resilience and determination, excelling in his judo journey. Since joining the JudoScotland Talent Development Pathway 18 months ago, he has continued to go from strength to strength. Murray shared valuable insights into his training, his journey so far, and the exciting challenges that lie ahead.
Reflecting on the weekend’s competition, Murray said: “It feels pretty good.” However, the journey to victory wasn’t without its challenges. He explained: “Coming off the back of the Scottish Championship two weeks before, where I did fairly well, it was tricky to gear up for the next competition so soon after.”
As a committed member of the Talent Development Pathway, Murray recently had the opportunity to participate in a training camp in Belgium. Sharing his thoughts on the experience, he said: “It was my first time away with the Scotland squad. It felt good being part of the sighted squad and feeling like one of the team.”
I was curious to know what inspires Murray as a judoka, and he reflected on some of the highlights of his journey so far: “Joining the British Judo Para Potential team and travelling to Germany and France. Being part of the team and learning from the best has been so much fun—it allows me to get better and better.”
Murray added: “Being part of a squad doing so well inspires me, knowing that I’ll get there one day too.” “I would like to thank my coaches David Reilly (Danderhall), Gary Edwards (JudoScotland), and Ian Johns (British Judo) for their support.”
Of course, we couldn’t wrap up without asking about his plans for the future. With excitement, Murray revealed: “My next challenge is getting my black belt, I still have 50 points to go which I hope to get at the Scottish Open in January.”
If you would like to find out more about the adapted category at The Scottish Open 2025, click here.