| Note: In November, 2002 - just after this article was written, Lenda Murray returned to competition and won her 7th Ms. Olympia title. In 2003, she once again competing in Las Vegas and won an unprecedented 8th Ms. Olympia victory. |
LENDA MURRAY ANNOUNCES:
"I'M RETURNING TO COMPETITION!"
I
know there have been all sorts of rumors floating around so I want to make
this announcement in response to all the inquiries I've been getting from
fans – yes, I am planning to return to competitive bodybuilding and
will be on stage at the Ms. Olympia in Las Vegas this coming October.
My last competition was in 1997. After so many years of training and dieting for contests and all the effort it took to win six Ms. Olympia titles, I was totally burned out and felt I needed a rest. In addition, my husband Urel and I were planning to open a gym and the job of finding a location, buying a equipment and starting up a training facility was just too demanding for me to concentrate on competition preparation at the same time.
But at this point Lenda Murray's Fitness Firm in Virginia Beach, VA is doing well, taking care of gym business no longer takes up as much of my time and I have been feeling for quite a while that it might be time for me to return to the IFBB. One factor in motivating me is certainly the success of Juliette Bergmann’s comeback last year at the Ms. Olympia.
I have never stopped training since my “retirement” from competition and despite not being on stage have never lost my competitive drive. I have been a competitive athlete all my life, in track and field and then bodybuilding, so the desire to compete – and to win – is simply a part of my nature. Therefore, the idea of being able to compete in the Ms. Olympia – and to win a 7th title – is very exciting for me.
I know there has been a lot of progress in the sport over the past five
years but I feel I have been making gains as well. I expect to be
bigger and harder when I compete, but with the 
same
degree of symmetry and aesthetic quality. So I am looking forward
to seeing all my fans and friends in bodybuilding this October at the Mandalay
Bay in Las Vegas. To all of you who have contacted me with your good
wishes, thanks very much for your support and I promise you’ll like
what you see at the Ms. Olympia 2002.
Lenda Murray
msolympia6@aol.com
PO Box 9081
Virgina Beach, VA 23450
.