Andy Murray’s Wimbledon statue to be modelled on younger stand-in
Andy Murray has been replaced by a younger stand-in during the creation of his long-awaited Wimbledon statue after the sculptor admitted the former champion is now “a bit gnarly” compared to his playing prime, reports BritPanorama.
Artist David Williams-Ellis, commissioned to create the bronze tribute for the All England Club’s 150th anniversary celebrations in 2027, has enlisted a 23-year-old athlete to embody Murray’s famous court movement. Williams-Ellis stressed the importance of depicting Murray at the peak of his career, not as he currently appears.
The life-size sculpture will capture Murray in the act of balancing on one foot while striking a shot. This pose aims to reflect the athleticism that led to Murray ending Britain’s 77-year title drought in men’s Wimbledon singles in 2013, a feat he repeated in 2016.
Explaining the choice of a body double, Williams-Ellis remarked, “Andy at 38 is a bit gnarly.” He further elaborated, noting that Murray’s muscles have changed over time, necessitating a more youthful and agile model. “It’s really important to find a good model and I found this guy called Joe who has been brilliant,” he added.
Over nine months, the sculptor has meticulously studied around 150 photographs and video clips of Murray to ensure authenticity in every detail of the pose. The youthful model has posed in various positions to assist in capturing the essence of Murray’s game, while the former world No. 1 himself has visited the studio to refine the design.
Williams-Ellis aims to convey not just Murray’s physicality, but also his personality. “What I want to capture in the sculpture is movement and energy and what I hope I will also capture is Andy’s determination and also his incredibly nice soft side,” he explained.
Murray’s involvement has been personal; he voiced one significant concern regarding the potential artistic pitfalls of sporting sculptures. “Andy’s only concern was that it didn’t end up like some of the sporting sculptures you see around at stadiums around the world,” Williams-Ellis recounted. The finalized piece will stand on a plinth at an undisclosed location within Wimbledon grounds, set to be unveiled during the Championships in 2027.
The pressure of honoring Britain’s sporting icon has weighed heavily on Williams-Ellis. “We have all seen sculptures that have not been a success – mentioning no names – and I don’t want this to be one of those and I aim not to be,” he said.
Murray first captured the Wimbledon title in 2013, triumphing over Roger Federer, and secured a second title in 2016 against Milos Raonic. Even as the years pass, the anticipation surrounding this tribute reflects a lasting legacy, where the past feels ever-present on the hallowed grounds of Wimbledon.
