Taraje Williams-Murray
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Weight Category: 60kg, 81kg Honors:
Olympic Teams: 2008, 2004
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Personal: Williams-Murray took up judo at 8-years-old after his cousin started the sport. The fourth of six children, he says at one time they all did judo and all were home-schooled. His sisters, Kaure and Kinanda, both medaled at the senior nationals, but Williams-Murray was the only one to stick with the sport. From the very beginning Williams-Murray was in love with judo - as a kid, he says the worst punishment his parents could give was be not allowing him to go to practice. Watching the men's lightweight division at the senior nationals when he was just 12, Williams-Murray told those around him that he was going to take over that weight class. An accomplished junior level competitor and member of the 2002 U.S. Junior World Championship team, Williams-Murray officially moved up to the senior level in 2003. He quickly took over the top spot at 60 kilograms. Since that time, he became the dominant player in the division, winning three consecutive National Championships, beginning in 2003. In 2006, Williams-Murray moved up to the 66kg division for a season, winning medals at the Senior Nationals and U.S. Open, but returned to 60kg in 2007 where he has been undefeated so far this season. After competing on his second Olympic Team in the 60kg division, Williams-Murray took eight months off before returning to the Senior Nationals where he fought up three weight classes to 81kg. Williams-Murray surprised everyone by winning the silver medal and earning a #2 U.S. ranking in the division. |
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Recent Career Highlights: 2009:
2008:
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2006:
2005:
2004:
2003:
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