Canadian Bobsledder Shaquille Murray-Lawrence Makes Olympic Debut

The 5'8" athlete named after NBA legends Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway competes in two-man bobsled event.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Shaquille Anfernee Murray-Lawrence, a Canadian bobsled push athlete, is making his Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Despite being named after basketball stars Shaquille O'Neal and Anfernee 'Penny' Hardaway, the 5'8" Murray-Lawrence was unable to pursue basketball and instead found success in football and bobsledding. He and pilot Taylor Austin currently sit in 15th place after the first two runs of the two-man bobsled event.

Why it matters

Murray-Lawrence's Olympic debut is a feel-good story of perseverance, as the athlete overcame obstacles in his athletic career to represent Canada on the world stage. His unique name and background also add an intriguing human interest element to the Winter Games.

The details

Born in 1993, Murray-Lawrence was named after NBA legends Shaquille O'Neal and Anfernee 'Penny' Hardaway by his father, who hoped his son would follow in their basketball footsteps. However, the 5'8" athlete instead pursued football in the United States, facing challenges getting recruited by college coaches before eventually landing at UNLV. After a stint in the Canadian Football League, Murray-Lawrence was recruited by Bobsled Canada and is now making his Olympic debut in the two-man bobsled event.

  • Murray-Lawrence and pilot Taylor Austin competed in the first two runs of the two-man bobsled event on Monday, February 16, 2026.

The players

Shaquille Anfernee Murray-Lawrence

A Canadian bobsled push athlete making his Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

Taylor Austin

The pilot of the Canadian two-man bobsled team competing with Shaquille Murray-Lawrence.

Shaquille O'Neal

An NBA legend whose name Murray-Lawrence was given by his father.

Anfernee 'Penny' Hardaway

An NBA legend whose name Murray-Lawrence was given by his father.

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What they’re saying

“Today is very special for me, my country, my friends, family, my whole community. Just being able to give it my all and just represent Canada.”

— Shaquille Anfernee Murray-Lawrence, Canadian Bobsled Athlete (Associated Press)

“My father was definitely a Shaq fan, and he hoped one day that I would grow to 7 feet tall and be dunking in basketball. That never happened, but I was blessed with tremendous speed, tremendous heart, tremendous pride, and that's all I need.”

— Shaquille Anfernee Murray-Lawrence, Canadian Bobsled Athlete (Associated Press)

What’s next

Murray-Lawrence and Austin will compete in the final two runs of the two-man bobsled event on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

The takeaway

Despite not fulfilling his father's dream of becoming an NBA superstar like his namesakes, Shaquille Murray-Lawrence has found success in other sports, showcasing his perseverance and representing Canada with pride on the Olympic stage.