Read on: danhwilliams.com

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Sir Andy Murray is Britain’s most successful tennis player.

Recently retired, his professional tennis career stretches back to 2005, ranking number 1 in the world in 2016 🌍

He’s won 3 grand slam titles, including 2 Wimbledon titles, 46 ATP single titles, and he helped Great Britain to win the Davis Cup in 2015 🇬‍🇧

Oh, and he’s the only man to win 2 Olympic gold medals in tennis.

Murray has put British tennis back on the map.
And he’s done that in the midst of ‘golden era’ in global tennis.

That was acknowledged in 2017, when Murray was awarded the UK’s youngest knighthood at the age of 29.
 

What does it take to reach the top of elite sport? 

Well, Murray first picked up a tennis racket when he was 2 years old.

He played in his first tournament age 5 and competed against adults in his local tennis league at the age of 8.

He moved to Barcelona as a teenager when he thought that he was falling behind his peers.

His response to criticism by his then coach (former world number one doubles player, Emilio Sánchez) that he lacked stamina, didn't have the strength and hadn't put in enough hours…

…was to work HARDER.

He put in 9-hour training days...

Physiotherapy sessions punctuated strength, flexibility, and mobility sessions… both on court, track and in the gym.

(there's a lot for us mere mortals to take from that mix)

Murray points to the explosive power and impact that tennis demands to change direction and sprint over and over again.

Flexible contortionist-like joints need to be powerlifter strong through a full range of movement.

That's what's required to repeatedly hit 130 mph serves and return 50 shot rallies. That only comes with a 30-year, lifelong commitment to be the best.
 

So why am I writing about Andy Murray?

Well, partly to learn the lessons we can all take from an optimally conditioned athlete:

1. Daily consistency
2. Eating and sleeping well
3. Mixing up strength, flexibility + mobility.

(it's less about the 9-hour training days ;))

BUT there's another lesson to take away...


I’ve written a lot about the balance between bodyweight and activity / strength.

AND in hip and knee clinic...

4 in 5 people are overweight or obese 😲
And inevitably, are less active + weaker than before.

I ask my patients to cross their arms and stand from sitting...

• Some can, some can't.
• Some throw their trunk forward.
• Momentum gets them to their feet ↗

Too much load (bodyweight) is no longer balanced by strong enough muscles.


That is clearly not Any Murray!

I'd take an educated guess that Murray can stand from sitting just fine.

He’s an elite athlete, optimally conditioned with zero excess bodyweight.

So, if that's the case, why did he need a hip replacement aged 31 years?

I'll do my best to answer that in next week's Lifetime Hip & Knee newsletter. Thinking about that answer provides useful insight for us all.

I maintain that these extreme examples-  and Sir Andy Murray is an extreme example- can help us all 👍

Meanwhile, if you know anyone with the first twinges of hip or groin pain.. maybe forward this email to them.

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See you next week :)