Andy Murray’s psychologist Rich Hampson has teamed up with BMX freestyler Kieran Reilly and is targeting Olympic gold at the Paris Games.
Hampson featured in the Amazon Prime documentary ‘Resurfacing’ – a film that followed Murray’s incredible injury comeback after he returned with a metal hip.
Murray’s psychologist has now swapped tennis for BMX as he looks to help Reilly secure a gold medal for Britain at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer.
‘It’s very new to me,’ Reilly said about working with Hampson. ‘I was sceptical at first because it’s so new to our sport.
‘I’ve not heard of anyone else using it, so I didn’t see the benefit. But it’s not so much psychology, it’s more just breaking things down.
‘Like when you say a certain trick is scary, you’re then building that image to yourself.
‘When you start working with him, you realise, ‘Oh yeah, you’re really in your own head’ – little things can have a massive impact, like doing a certain routine before you drop in so that it feels the same every time.’
Murray recently returned to practice after his horror ankle injury at the Miami Open, although no timeline for his ATP Tour comeback has been announced.
The 36-year-old, who has admitted he’s unlikely to play past this summer as he edges towards retirement, is hoping to feature at the upcoming Olympics.
Murray won Olympic gold in the men’s singles at London 2012 and Rio 2016 while he has also landed a silver medal in mixed doubles with Laura Robson.
The three-time Grand Slam champion is ‘out of the walking boot’ and has been seen hitting forehand shots on an indoor practice court.
It was previously thought that Murray could have been ruled out for up to 12 months but his team have since confirmed that he has avoided surgery.
‘I am looking forward to the end [of my career] now,’ Murray said last month. ‘[I will] give my best the next few months.’
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