Karen Murphy is a stereotype-defying trailblazer of the bowls community, who has elevated the sport well beyond its usual reach with her success at the elite level over a 20-plus year career.
With gold medal-winning performances at Commonwealth Games and World Championships levels, Karen or Kaz donned the green and gold at international level on more than 660 occasions – a testament to her durability and resilience. She won four World Championship gold medals – and two in succession in the singles event, one in pairs and one in fours – plus a silver and three bronze, while also claiming one gold (Melbourne, 2006) and three silver medals across five Commonwealth Games. At the last, on the Gold Coast in 2018, she was chosen to read the Athletes’ Oath on behalf of all Commonwealth Games competitors.
Karen was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2021 and is currently the National Assistant Coach, a position she has held since 2021. Karen was also a Director of the World Bowls Board member from 2014-18 and was instrumental in the developing the idea of Oceania Bowls and the concept of what is now the Oceania Challenge.
Record:
- Commonwealth Games: ’98 (fours silver), ’02 (singles silver), ’06 (pairs gold), ’14 (triples silver)
- World Bowls Championships: ’00 (pairs silver), ’00 (singles bronze), ’04 (pairs bronze), ’08 (pairs bronze), ’08 (fours gold), ’12 (singles gold), ’12 (triples gold), ’16 (singles gold)
- Asia Pacific gold: ’97 (triples), ’97 (fours), ’99 (pairs), ’01 (fours), ’05 (pairs), ’07 (pairs), ’15 (singles), ’15 (pairs)
- World Bowls Champion of Champions: ’13
