Biography

Date of Birth

1993

Birthplace

Baie-Comeau, Québec

Residence

Saint-Hubert, Québec

Home Club

Sani Sport, Brossard

Coach

Rino Langelier

Equipment

Gearbox

Samuel Murray is one of Canada’s most successful racquetball athletes, with a career full of international and national accolades. His most significant achievement came at the 2024 IRF World Championships, where he won gold in Men’s Doubles alongside longtime partner Coby Iwaasa, marking a major milestone for Team Canada. That same year, Murray captured silver medals in Mixed Doubles (with Frédérique Lambert) and in the Men’s Team Competition. His success at the World Championships stretches back nearly a decade, including a silver in Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles at the 2022 World Championships, a bronze in Men’s Doubles in 2018, and a bronze in Men’s Singles in 2016—a testament to his consistency on the world stage. At the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, Murray once again rose to the occasion, earning two silver medals—one in Men’s Doubles with Iwaasa and another in the Men’s Team Event. These medals added to his already impressive resume. Murray has also been a regular podium finisher at the Pan American Championships, where he’s showcased his versatility in both singles and doubles play. In 2025, he captured a bronze in Men’s Singles. His 2024 campaign was particularly strong, earning silver in both Men’s Singles and Doubles, and a bronze in the Team Event. In 2022, Murray and Iwaasa claimed gold in Men’s Doubles, while previous years saw additional medals, including silver in 2019 and bronze in 2018, solidifying his reputation as one of the most consistent performers in the Pan Am region. Professionally, Murray has made a lasting impact on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). He became the second Canadian ever to win a Tier 1 or Grand Slam event when he captured the title at the 2021 Suivant Consulting Pro-Am, and has finished as high as #3 in the world rankings. Known for his powerful, tactical game and composed demeanor under pressure, “Big Canada” (as he’s nicknamed on tour) has built a reputation as a player to watch, with more than a decade of top-level IRT experience under his belt. Nationally, Samuel Murray has been a dominant force at the Canadian Championships, earning a staggering number of titles across both singles and doubles. He is a five-time Men’s Open Singles Champion (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023), reclaiming the title again in 2024. In doubles, he has secured six national titles, including multiple wins with his brother Tommy Murray, and others with partners like Coby Iwaasa, Pedro Castro, and Vincent Gagnon. He has also earned numerous silver and bronze finishes at Nationals since 2013, making him one of the most decorated Canadian racquetball players in history. Samuel Murray’s journey in racquetball, from his early days competing alongside his brother to his rise as a world-class competitor, reflects a deep dedication to the sport and an impressive legacy that continues to grow.

Q&A

Start in Racquetball:  I started to play when I was eight years old, with my brother. My parents had been playing for many years and always brought us along to the club in Baie-Comeau. 

Reason for playing: I play racquetball because I love the sport. I like to push myself and I like playing with my brother and training with my coach. I love the competition that racquetball offers me.

Training habits:A normal week of training during racquetball season is practicing racquetball with my coach, playing racquetball with my brother, and working out at the gym.

Best Racquetball moment or memory: My best moment since leaving the junior level and becoming an elite athlete is winning the 2019 Canadian Championship Open Doubles title with my brother. My first final on the professional circuit is also a defining moment in my career. My victory in the Atlanta 2019 professional tour tournament.

Non – Racquetball Talents: Pickleball and Squash.

When you are not playing Racquetball you are probably:Watching TV, playing other sports, or spending time with my brother.

What is something that people might not know about you or find surprising?  Nothing.

Advise for athletes who want to play at your level:I would tell them to never quit, to train hard and that the hard work always pays off.

Who has been important in your developed as a racquetball athlete? The most important factor in my development was moving to Brossard with my brother for our studies and for racquetball. Since we arrived in Brossard, my trainer Rino Langelier has followed my development much more closely. Rino and my brother have been the key to my development as a racquetball player.

Highlights

Silver
Santiago 2023 Pan American Games
Men's Doubles
Silver
Santiago 2023 Pan American Games
Men's Team Competition
Gold
2024 World Championships
Men's Doubles
Silver
2024 World Championships
Men's Team Competition
Silver
2022 World Championships
Mixed Doubles
Silver
2022 World Championships
Men's Team Competition
Bronze
2022 World Championships
Men's Doubles
Bronze
2018 World Championships
Men's Doubles
Bronze
2016 World Championships
Men's Singles
Bronze
2025 Pan American Championships
Men's Singles
Silver
2024 Pan American Championships
Men's Singles
Silver
2024 Pan American Championships
Men's Doubles
Bronze
2024 Pan American Championships
Men's Team Competition
Gold
2022 Pan American Championships
Men's Doubles
Silver
2019 Pan American Championships
Men's Doubles
Bronze
2018 Pan American Championships
Men's Doubles
Gold
2024 National Championships
Men's Open Singles
Silver
2024 National Championships
Men's Open Doubles
Gold
2023 National Championships
Men's Open Singles
Silver
2023 National Championships
Men's Open Doubles
Gold
2022 National Championships
Men's Open Singles
Gold
2022 National Championships
Men's Open Doubles
Gold
2021 National Championships
Men's Open Singles
Gold
2021 National Championships
Men's Open Doubles
Gold
2019 National Championships
Men's Open Singles
Gold
2019 National Championships
Men's Open Doubles
Gold
2018 National Championships
Men's Open Singles
Gold
2018 National Championships
Men's Open Doubles
Silver
2017 National Championships
Men's Open Singles
Bronze
2017 National Championships
Men's Open Doubles
Gold
2016 National Championships
Men's Open Doubles
Silver
2015 National Championships
Men's Open Singles
Bronze
2015 National Championships
Men's Open Doubles
Bronze
2014 National Championships
Men's Open Singles
Gold
2014 National Championships
Men's Open Doubles
Bronze
2013 National Championships
Men's Open Doubles