Tennis legend Andy Murray (37) was rescued from a ski slope after a terrifying experience that almost saw him fall into a ravine. The former world No. 1 shared his dramatic story after his first skiing attempt ended in a disaster.
Andy Murray Tries Skiing After Retiring from Tennis
After retiring from tennis at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Andy Murray picked up skiing as a new hobby during the winter. Before skiing, he had tried his hand at golf in the fall. However, skiing didn’t come as easily to Murray as tennis did.
A Scary Experience on the Ski Slope
The two-time Wimbledon champion found himself stuck on a mountain slope, scared of falling into a ravine. Murray and his brother-in-law missed the last ski lift, leading to a frightening 3-kilometer descent down the mountain.
Recalling the Incident on “Sports Disasters” Podcast
In a recent interview on the “Sports Disasters” podcast, Murray recalled the terrifying experience:
“The first two days were shocking. I couldn’t get off the ski lift, and I couldn’t stand up. Some lifts were very low. My wife didn’t want to join me because she was embarrassed seeing me struggle. I ended up continuing with strangers, and my brother-in-law had to help me.”
On the first day, Murray got stuck on the mountain as the sun set. They were on a beginner’s trail, and after the main lift closed, they tried to reach another lift, only to discover that one was closed too.
The Only Option: Ski Down a Dangerous Slope
The ski lift operator told them that the only way down was to ski. When Murray explained he didn’t know how to ski, the operator responded, “You shouldn’t have gone up when we told you the lift was closing.”
Murray had no choice but to attempt the 3-kilometer ski descent, which was made even more difficult due to the icy conditions.
“I had no idea how to stop, skied about 500 meters, but the slope was narrow. I’ve thought if I tried to turn, I’d fall into a ravine. I just went straight down the mountain. Eventually, I started sliding on my rear and couldn’t continue,” Murray recalled.
Murray Rescued by Snowmobile Team
Eventually, Murray made it to a restaurant, where rescue teams arrived on snowmobiles to help him. They safely took him down the mountain to the base.
“The rescue team wasn’t thrilled. They usually rescue drunk tourists, not someone who thought they could ski after dark. Honestly, I was a bit embarrassed. But after a few days of practice, I’m ready to hit the slopes again in April,” Murray said.
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