Karen Murphy announces international retirement
BCiB Australian Jackaroos stalwart Karen Murphy has announced her international retirement, effective at the end of the year.
Murphy, 44, made her debut for Australia as a 23-year-old at the 1997 Asia Pacific Championships in Warilla, NSW, before going on to amass a record 646 caps across 23 years for her country.
The Kiama product made the announcement at Bowls Australia’s 2019 Hall of Fame & Awards Night on the Gold Coast, while also confirming she would fulfil her selection in the Australian squads for the 2019 Multi-Nations (November 18-24) and World Bowls Challenge (November 29-30).
Murphy is widely regarded as one of the country’s finest ever bowlers, having represented Australia at five Commonwealth Games (including two on home soil, Melbourne & Gold Coast) and five World Championships.
She is a former Commonwealth Games gold medallist and a four-time World Championship gold medallist, including securing the Women’s Singles gold in back to back Championships (2012 & 2016).
Currently of the Cabramatta Bowling Club in NSW, Murphy has spent time at St John’s Park and formerly Shoalhaven Heads, where she first took up the sport aged 11.
One of Murphy’s more memorable achievements in recent years came at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, where she was asked to read the Athlete’s Oath at the event’s opening ceremony.
Karen Murphy, Lisa Alexander and Desmond Johnston take an oath on behalf of the athletes, coaches and technical officials at #GC2018. #7CommGames #ShareTheDream pic.twitter.com/p0mS8ajzMb
— 7CommGames (@7CommGames) April 4, 2018
Karen Murphy
DOB: 18/12/1974 (44)
Club: Cabramatta
State: NSW
Cap number: 56
Caps for Australia: 646*
Debut: 1997 (Asia Pacific Championships)
Commonwealth Games Medals: Silver – Fours (Kuala Lumpur, 1998), Silver – Singles (Manchester, 2002), Gold – Pairs (Melbourne, 2006), Silver – Triples (Glasgow, 2014)
World Championship Medals: Silver – Pairs, Bronze – Singles (Moama, 2000), Bronze – Pairs (Birmingham, 2004), Gold – Fours, Bronze – Pairs (Christchurch, 2008), Gold – Singles, Triples (Adelaide, 2012), Gold – Singles (Christchurch, 2016)
