2012 Sporting Memories: Hooray & dismay for Murray at Wimbledon

For my fourth Sporting Memory from 2012, I had to get out my shovel and dig deep; way past all the Football, Motorsport, and Olympic memories, and right down to the depths of that pokey little tennis Championship held in London every year...

Yes, Wimbledon. In your average year, Wimbledon is one of the highlights on the sporting calendar, one of the few true blue ribboned events that the U.K and the world can look forward to. Despite London 2012 hanging over this years event, Wimbledon carried on this traditional reputation, and somewhat surpassed it, thanks to one man by the name of Andy Murray. 

Scotland's golden boy has been knocking on the door of a Wimbledon final for nigh on five years now, and in 2012, his persistence got him what he wanted, in a crack at the Wimbledon title. Just one man stood in Murray's way, in the form of a certain Roger Federer, who for me is the undisputed king of mens-singles Tennis in recent years, even more so than Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray, of whom make up the sports 'big four'.

For many, including me, funnily enough it wasn't the final contest itself that stands out as a favourite memory from 2012, but instead the aftermath of the encounter. Having been quite frankly given a masterclass by one of the sports all-time greats, Murray failed to give his nation(s) the home-title they craved, one that has deprived Britain since Fred Perry's title at SW19 way back in 1936. 

But it's not the match we all remember, is it? I mean, who could forget the emotionally charged speech from Murray afterwards? Here we have Andy Murray, a man portrayed in the media and prejudiced to be a hard-nosed, emotionless, somewhat-grumpy and cold competitor. It's the runners-up speech in question on the 8th July 2012 that completely changed that. One that, both visually and through hearing, was one charged with pure heart and emotion, as he acknowledged fans, team and family alike, through a tear-jerked presentation on Centre Court. 

Needless to say that for myself watching at home, it was far from comfortable to watch, as I witnessed a man fighting through his critics and cynics against him to deliver to the world and more specifically Britain, a confession of love and passionate-drive for the sport, the competition, and all those behind him. The 2012 Wimbledon men's final won't be remembered for the final Murray lost, but for the final he made.