PHILADELPHIA -- Stephen Murray is tired of coming up short. Breaking bones. Not making finals. And he's a little fed up with taking a back seat to the T.J. Lavin's and Ryan Nyquist's of the BMX world.

So with the X Games on it's biggest stage ever in Philadelphia, and in front of a packed First Union Center, Murray was looking to throw down a podium performance.

"Qualifying is the main thing for me," said the Great Britain native, after a particularly hard practice session on Saturday. "Just to get your consistent stuff down and get over it. Once that is done, I've been working on the down low for the finals. The finals will be pretty wild."

Murray, participating in his first X Games, seems to be at a transitional stage in his career. After some less than stellar riding, Murray has been riding well of late, and he is healthy for the first time in recent memory.

Stephen Murray pulls a backflip during practice at the First Union Center in Philadelphia.

"This year my riding has been really really on. I got the Nirve contract and the first year I was just breaking bones and never really stood out in competition. I would always miss the finals. Over the winter I thought this was really the time to step it up so I just rode hard."

Murray hasn't let a string of bad luck keep him out of contention though.

"When you first get injured, you are just so bummed. It's hurting and aching and sore when you get back on the bike and your confidence just goes. Then I would get my confidence back and I would get injured again. I would get back on and break my collarbone. I 'd get back on again and break my ankle. Then it was my wrist. It was literally like that. After breaking about six bones in eight months I was just like, 'What am I supposed to do?' But I just love BMX. So that has been my whole drive. If I can be injured that much and still get out of it, I must be out of all the bad stuff."

Murray has speeded his progress along by hooking up with Cory Nastazio, last years silver medalist in the Bike Dirt competition. The two have become close friends and even share a pad together in California.

"Cory bought a house out in Riverside, Calif. and I moved out with him. All over the winter we rode like crazy and just pushed each other. It has really shown this year. All my results this year have been so much better than before."

When asked how he first met Nastazio, Murray just looks to the sky and laughs.

"Jesus! When I first came to America we rode at a place in California called Sheep Hills. I would see this kid come down with his hat turned sideways (Murray acts out the scene) yellin' Whassssup!! and all this crazy language. We just became friends and rode together a lot."

There is no doubt that Murray's desire to break through and take his riding to another level has been infused by Nastazio's enthusiasm.

"Nasty is amazing. Right now he is so on top of his game. He did a 360 tailwhip and rolled his ankle, chipped a bone and fractured his fibula at his house so he is still recovering. He got so close to winning last year, and there was such a debate about Nyquist winning, so he just wants it really bad this year."

But while all eyes were on Lavin, Nasty, and Nyquist, Murray just wanted to do his thing and hoped to catch the eye of the five most important people in the arena - the judges.

"People aren't expecting me to do much, said Murray while practicing for the Finals. "They are just thinking of T.J. and Nyquist so I'm the underdog I guess. But this place is crazy. I've never ever jumped in a place like this. Just look at it! It's like the NBA or something. The lasers and TV and media and all that, I'm just going to block it out and pretend I'm in my backyard."

Murray did just that on Sunday night in Philadelphia, landing a double backflip on his way to a first place finish. Ryan Nyquist, with a chance to finish first on his final run, crashed attempting a 720, securing the gold medal for Murray and sending the crowd into a frenzy and the rest of the field standing in amazement.

So much for taking a back seat.

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