Ryan Murphy (swimmer)

Ryan Murphy
Personal information
Full name Ryan Murphy
National team  United States
Born (1995-07-02) July 2, 1995
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg)
Sport
Sport Swimming
Strokes Backstroke, Freestyle
Club Bolles School Bulldogs,
Jacksonville, Florida
College team University of California, Berkeley

Ryan Murphy (born July 2, 1995) is an American competitive swimmer who specializes in backstroke. He is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and world-record holder in the men's 100-meter backstroke (long course).

At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Murphy swept the backstroke events by winning gold in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke.[1] Murphy also won gold in the 4×100-meter medley relay and his leadoff backstroke leg broke Aaron Peirsol's former world record set in 2009.

Personal life

Murphy graduated from Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida in 2013 and went on to the University of California, Berkeley. Swimming for the California Golden Bears, he is a six-time NCAA individual national champion, winning the 100-yard and 200-yard backstrokes in 2014, 2015, and 2016.[2]

Murphy is a Roman Catholic who credits his athleticism to God: “I believe God has given me a great talent, for which I’m eternally grateful. My faith gives me comfort despite the outcome of a race. I ultimately believe ― I know ― God has a larger plan for me.”[3]

Swimming career

In 2011, Murphy earned the first international medals in his career, both in the 200-meter backstroke. At the 2011 World Junior Swimming Championships in Lima, Murphy won a bronze medal in the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 1:59.63.[4] Later in 2011, at the 2011 Pan American Games, Murphy won another bronze also in the 200-meter backstroke. In the final, he recorded a time of 1:58.50.

At the 2012 United States Olympic Trials, the qualifying meet for the 2012 Olympics, Murphy missed the Olympic team by finishing sixth in the 100-meter backstroke (53.92) and fourth in the 200-meter backstroke (1:57.39).[5][6]

Following the Olympics, Murphy competed at the 2012 World Short Course Championships in Istanbul, where he won a gold and bronze medal. His bronze came in the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 1:48.86, finishing behind Radosław Kawęcki and Ryan Lochte. Murphy also earned a gold medal in the 4×100-meter medley relay for his participation in the heats, swimming the backstroke leg with a time of 50.91.

At the 2013 US National Championships, Murphy just missed qualifying for the 2013 World Aquatics Championships by finishing third in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke, finishing with times of 53.38 and 1:56.37.

In 2015, Murphy broke the American record previously held by Ryan Lochte in the 200-yard backstroke.[7] Ryan Murphy broke the 100 meter backstroke world record with his 51.85 sec. split for the 4 x 100 medley relay at the 2016 Rio Olympics.[8]

2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games

2016 Summer Olympics
100 m backstroke 51.97
200 m backstroke 1.53.62
4×100 m medley 3:27.95

In 2016 Murphy qualified for the US men's Olympic swimming team for his first Olympics by placing first in the 100 m and 200 m backstroke events at the Olympic trials. At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Murphy won gold in the 100 and 200-meter backstroke, and in the 4x100-meter men's medley relay together with Cody Miller, Michael Phelps, and Nathan Adrian. He broke Aaron Peirsol's world record for the 100-meter backstroke with his relay split time of 51.85.

Personal bests

As of August 13, 2016
Long course
Event Time Meet Date Note(s)
100 m freestyle 49.88 Arena Pro Swim Series January 16, 2015
100 m backstroke 51.85 2016 Summer Olympics August 13, 2016 WR
200 m backstroke 1:53.62 2016 Summer Olympics August 11, 2016

References

  1. ↑ Ryan Murphy: Tonight felt like my night (Video). Swimswam.com (June 28, 2016). Retrieved on August 12, 2016.
  2. ↑ NCAA Division I Men's Championships: Ryan Murphy Cracks Ryan Lochte American Record in 200 Back – Swimming World News. Swimmingworldmagazine.com. Retrieved on August 12, 2016.
  3. ↑ http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/olympic-gold-medalist-ryan-murphy-i-hope-always-to-live-life-based-on-gods/
  4. ↑ "2011 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships – 200 m backstroke results (final)". Omega Timing. Archived from the original on June 8, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  5. ↑ "2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials (swimming) – Men's 100 metre backstroke (final)". Omega Timing. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  6. ↑ "2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials (swimming) – Men's 200 metre backstroke (final)". Omega Timing. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  7. ↑ Ryan Murphy Breaks Ryan Lochte's 200 Back American Record To Repeat As NCAA Champion. Swimswam.com (March 28, 2015). Retrieved on August 12, 2016.
  8. ↑ Rio Olympics 2016: Michael Phelps bows out of Games with gold in men's relay, BBC (August 14, 2016)
Records
Preceded by

Aaron Peirsol		 Men's 100-meter backstroke
world record-holder (long course)
August 13, 2016 – present 		Succeeded by

Incumbent
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