1. Overview
Ryan Fitzgerald Murphy (born July 2, 1995), also known by his nicknames "Murph" and "Murph Man," is an American competitive swimmer specializing in backstroke. He is a five-time Olympic gold medalist and the former world-record holder in the men's 100-meter backstroke.
Murphy swept the backstroke events at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, winning gold medals in both the 100- and 200-meter backstroke. He also earned a gold medal in the 4×100-meter medley relay, where his backstroke leg broke the world record previously set by Aaron Peirsol in 2009. At the 2020 Summer Olympics, he secured a gold medal in the 4x100-meter medley relay, a silver medal in the 200-meter backstroke, and a bronze medal in the 100-meter backstroke. His success continued into the 2024 Summer Olympics where he added a gold in the mixed 4x100m medley relay, a silver in the men's 4x100m medley relay, and a bronze in the 100m backstroke.
2. Early life and education
Ryan Fitzgerald Murphy was born on July 2, 1995, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. His hometown is Jacksonville, Florida. Murphy began dreaming of competing at the Olympic Games when he was seven years old.
He graduated from Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2013 and subsequently attended the University of California, Berkeley. While swimming for the California Golden Bears (Cal), Murphy achieved significant collegiate success, becoming an eight-time NCAA individual national champion. He notably won both the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke events for four consecutive years, from 2014 to 2017.
3. Swimming career
Ryan Murphy's swimming career has been marked by consistent high-level performance and numerous international and collegiate accolades, spanning from his amateur days to his professional league participation.
3.1. 2011-2015: Amateur and early international success
At the age of 16 in 2011, Murphy earned his first career international medals, both in the 200-meter backstroke. At the 2011 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships in Lima, he secured a bronze medal with a time of 1:59.63. Later that year, at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, he claimed another bronze in the 200-meter backstroke, finishing in 1:58.50.
In 2012, Murphy participated in the 2012 United States Olympic Trials, where he narrowly missed qualifying for the Olympic team, placing sixth in the 100-meter backstroke (53.92) and fourth in the 200-meter backstroke (1:57.39). Following the Olympics, he competed at the 2012 World Short Course Championships in Istanbul. There, he won a bronze medal in the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 1:48.86, finishing behind Radosław Kawęcki and Ryan Lochte. He also earned a gold medal in the 4×100-meter medley relay for his participation in the heats, where he swam the backstroke leg in 50.91 seconds.
At the 2013 US National Championships, Murphy again just missed qualifying for the 2013 World Aquatics Championships, finishing third in both the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke events with times of 53.38 and 1:56.37, respectively.
In 2014, Murphy won the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke events at his first NCAA Division I Swimming Championships. His 100-yard backstroke time of 44.78 seconds set a US 17-18 National Age Group (NAG) record. His 200-yard backstroke time of 1:37.23 broke both Tyler Clary's NCAA record and the 17-18 NAG record. He also placed eighth in the 200-yard individual medley (IM) and contributed to Cal's team championship by swimming on their 200 and 400 medley and freestyle relays.
During the 2015 NCAA Championships, Murphy swept the backstroke events once more. He broke the American record previously held by Ryan Lochte in the 200-yard backstroke and also won the 100-yard backstroke, breaking Lochte's NCAA record. He placed fifth in the 200 IM and was recognized as the CSCAA Swimmer of the Meet. At the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Murphy placed fifth in the 200m backstroke, secured a gold medal in the 4×100m medley relay, and a silver medal in the mixed 4×100m medley relay.
3.2. 2016: Rio Olympics and world record
Murphy continued his dominance at the 2016 NCAA Division I Swimming Championships, extending his backstroke winning streak with first-place finishes in the 100-yard and 200-yard backstrokes. His times of 43.49 seconds and 1:35.73, respectively, broke his own NCAA, American, and US Open records. He also finished third in the 200-yard IM with a time of 1:40.27 and shared the CSCAA Swimmer of the Meet title with former Bolles teammates Joseph Schooling and Caeleb Dressel.
At the 2016 US Summer Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, Murphy earned his place on his first Olympic team by winning both the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke events. His victory in the 100-meter backstroke also secured him a spot on the 4×100-meter medley relay team.
During the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Murphy achieved a remarkable sweep of the backstroke events, claiming gold medals in both the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke races. In the 100-meter backstroke, he set a new Olympic record with a time of 51.97 seconds, marking the sixth consecutive time a US swimmer had won gold in this event at the Olympics. He also won a gold medal as part of the 4×100-meter medley relay team alongside Cody Miller, Michael Phelps, and Nathan Adrian. In this relay, Murphy's backstroke split of 51.85 seconds broke the 100-meter backstroke world record previously held by Aaron Peirsol since 2009. The relay team collectively set a new Olympic record with a time of 3:27.95. His gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke was also the first won by a male alumnus of a high school in Jacksonville, Florida, for the United States in an individual swimming event. Overall, in his Olympic debut, Murphy competed in and won gold medals in all three of his events, setting three Olympic records and one world record. He was recognized by the International Olympic Committee as one of the stars of the 2016 Summer Olympics.
3.3. 2017-2019: World Championships and Pan Pacific dominance
At the 2017 NCAA Championships, Murphy completed an unprecedented achievement by sweeping the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke events for the fourth consecutive year. This made him only the fourth man in NCAA history to sweep 100-yard and 200-yard events of a single stroke for four years in a row, joining the ranks of John Nabor (backstroke), Pablo Morales (butterfly), and Brendan Hansen (breaststroke). He also placed third in the 200-yard IM, leading after the breaststroke leg before being overtaken in the freestyle portion.
For the 2017 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Murphy qualified by winning the 200-meter backstroke and placing second to Matt Grevers in the 100-meter backstroke at the US National Championships. At the World Championships, he earned a bronze medal in the 100-meter backstroke, finishing behind Xu Jiayu and Grevers. He secured a silver medal in the 200-meter backstroke, placing behind Evgeny Rylov and ahead of his countryman and former college teammate Jacob Pebley. Murphy also contributed to two gold medals by swimming in the preliminary heats of both the 4×100-meter medley relay and the mixed 4×100-meter medley relay. The mixed medley relay team initially set a World and Championship record time of 3:40.28 in the prelims, a record later broken by the US team in the finals.
In August 2018, Murphy competed at the 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Tokyo, Japan, where he achieved significant success, winning three gold medals. He claimed victories in the 100-meter backstroke and the 200-meter backstroke, and also contributed to the gold medal-winning men's 4×100-meter medley relay team. His dominant performance in the 200-meter backstroke, finishing in 1:53.57, established a new Championships record, more than 1.5 seconds faster than the silver medalist, Ryosuke Irie. Murphy later expressed his hope that competing in a pool near the future 2020 Summer Olympics venue would help alleviate his superstitions regarding his performance at the upcoming Games. Following his outstanding swims at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships, USA Swimming nominated him for three Golden Goggle Awards: "Relay Performance of the Year," "Male Race of the Year," and "Male Athlete of the Year." He ultimately won all three awards.
Later in 2018, Murphy participated in the 2018 FINA World Swimming Championships in Hangzhou, China. He earned three individual medals: a gold in the 100-meter backstroke, a silver in the 50-meter backstroke, and another silver in the 200-meter backstroke. In relay events, he secured gold medals in the men's 4×100-meter medley relay and the mixed 4×50-meter medley relay, and a silver medal in the men's 4×50-meter medley relay.
In July 2019, Murphy competed at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, where he won three silver medals. He was part of the mixed 4×100-meter medley relay team, alongside Lilly King, Caeleb Dressel, and Simone Manuel, which finished just two hundredths of a second behind Australia to earn silver. Additionally, Murphy won silver medals in both the 200-meter backstroke and the men's 4×100-meter medley relay. He also placed fourth in the 50m and 100m backstroke events.
3.4. 2020-2022: Tokyo Olympics and professional league
In June 2021, Murphy qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo by winning the 100-meter backstroke event at the 2020 USA Swimming Olympic Trials with a time of 52.33 seconds. He was the only veteran to qualify in this event, with the other spot going to first-time Olympian Hunter Armstrong. Murphy also secured his spot in the 200-meter backstroke, winning the final with a time of 1:54.20 after advancing from prelims and semifinals.
Murphy was selected as one of four captains for the US Olympic swim team at the 2020 Summer Olympics, alongside Caeleb Dressel, Simone Manuel, and Allison Schmitt. These veteran Olympians were chosen for their leadership, with Murphy specifically noted for his calm demeanor and the stability he provided to the team.
On day two of the Tokyo Olympics, Murphy swam a 53.22 in the prelims of the 100-meter backstroke, tying for seventh overall with Russian swimmer Evgeny Rylov. In the semifinals the following day, he swam the fastest time in both heats, finishing in 52.24 seconds, to advance to the final. In the final, competing against a field of largely veteran Olympians (five of the eight finalists had also competed in the 2016 100-meter backstroke final), Murphy won the bronze medal with a time of 52.19 seconds. Reflecting on his bronze medal after winning gold in 2016, Murphy stated, "Winning an Olympic gold means you're the best in the world. Being third in the world is no slouch."
On the fifth day of competition, Murphy advanced to the semifinals in the 200-meter backstroke, ranking seventh in the prelims with a time of 1:56.92. He significantly improved his time in the semifinals, swimming 1:55.38 to qualify for the final in third place. On day seven, Murphy earned his second medal of the 2020 Olympics, a silver medal, in the final of the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 1:54.15.
In the final of the 4×100-meter mixed medley relay, an event making its Olympic debut, Murphy swam the backstroke leg, followed by Lydia Jacoby (breaststroke), Torri Huske (butterfly), and Caeleb Dressel (freestyle). The team placed fifth. Murphy maintained the lead in his backstroke leg, tying with Thomas Ceccon of Italy at the wall. The American team fell to eighth place by the end of the butterfly leg but recovered to fifth overall in the freestyle. Murphy commended Jacoby's performance despite her goggles falling off during her leg.
On the final day of swimming, Murphy swam the backstroke leg in the final of the men's 4×100-meter medley relay with teammates Michael Andrew (breaststroke), Caeleb Dressel (butterfly), and Zach Apple (freestyle). The relay team won the gold medal in a world record time of 3:26.78, also setting a new Olympic record. By the conclusion of the 2020 Olympics, Murphy had amassed a total of six Olympic medals across his two Games (2016 and 2020), including four individual medals and two relay medals. His contribution to the world record and gold medal in the 4×100-meter medley relay earned him a nomination for the Golden Goggle Award for Relay Performance of the Year. He was also nominated for the Male Athlete of the Year Golden Goggle Award in recognition of his consistent performances and support for his teammates and the sport. His swims through August 2021 also secured his place on the 2021-2022 US National Team for both the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke events.
For the 2021 season of the International Swimming League (ISL), Murphy was retained by the LA Current. He took a break from competition during the regular season but rejoined for the playoffs. In his first race after the 2020 Olympic Games, he swam a 1:48.43 in the 200-meter backstroke during playoffs match number two, which was the fastest time globally in 2021 up to that point. For this match, Murphy earned enough points from his races to be named the MVP. In his second playoff match, he ranked second overall in MVP points. In his third and final playoff match of the season, Murphy achieved a personal season-best time of 1:48.10 in the 200-meter backstroke. He also won the 50-meter backstroke with a time of 22.53 seconds, setting new Americas, American, and ISL records, surpassing his own previous record from the 2020 ISL season. On the second day of the match, Murphy won the 50-meter backstroke skins event, defeating Evgeny Rylov in the final head-to-head race with a time of 24.22 seconds. For his outstanding performances, he was ranked number two in Swimming World's "The Week That Was" for the week of November 29. By the end of the 2021 ISL season, Murphy ranked eighth overall in MVP points with 610 points across thirteen matches.
On day two of the 2022 USA Swimming International Team Trials in Greensboro, North Carolina, Murphy qualified for the final of the 200-meter backstroke, ranking third in the prelim heats with a time of 1:57.46. He then won the final with a time of 1:55.01, securing his spot on the 2022 World Aquatics Championships team. He placed fourth in the 50-meter backstroke final with a time of 24.57 seconds. In the 100-meter backstroke final, Murphy finished second behind Hunter Armstrong with a time of 52.46 seconds, also qualifying for the World Championships in this event. In October, he was named to the roster for the 2022 World Short Course Championships for both the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke. At the 2022 World Aquatics Championships (long course), he won a gold medal in the 200m backstroke, a silver medal in the 100m backstroke, and a gold medal in the mixed 4×100m medley relay. He also earned a silver medal in the men's 4×100m medley relay. Later, at the **2022 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Melbourne**, Murphy had a highly successful showing, securing gold medals in the 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 4x100m medley relay, and the mixed 4x50m medley relay. He also earned a silver medal in the men's 4x50m medley relay.
3.5. 2023-2024: Recent competitions
At the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Murphy continued his strong performance, earning a gold medal in the 100m backstroke. He also secured a silver medal in the 200m backstroke, a gold medal in the men's 4×100m medley relay, and a bronze medal in the mixed 4×100m medley relay.
In 2024, at the US Olympic Trials, Murphy made history by placing first in the 200-meter backstroke, becoming the first swimmer to win both the 100m and 200m backstroke events three times in a row at the Olympic Trials. At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, he won a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke and a silver medal in the men's 4x100m medley relay. He also secured a gold medal as part of the mixed 4x100m medley relay.
4. Records and personal bests
Ryan Murphy has set and held multiple world and Olympic records throughout his career, along with achieving significant personal best times across various course types.
4.1. World and Olympic records
Murphy has established and held the following world and Olympic records:
| Event | Time | Meet | Date | Location | Age | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m backstroke | 51.85 | r | 2016 Summer Olympics | August 13, 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 21 | Former |
| 4x100 m medley relay (backstroke) | 3:26.78 (52.31) | 2020 Summer Olympics | August 1, 2021 | Tokyo, Japan | 26 | Current |
| Event | Time | Olympic Games | Date | Location | Age | Status | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m backstroke | 51.97 | 2016 Summer Olympics | August 8, 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 21 | Former | ||
| 100 m backstroke (2) | 51.85 | r | 2016 Summer Olympics | August 13, 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 21 | Current | Former WR |
| 4x100 m medley relay | 3:27.95 | 2016 Summer Olympics | August 13, 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 21 | Former | ||
| 4x100 m medley relay (2) | 3:26.78 | 2020 Summer Olympics | August 1, 2021 | Tokyo, Japan | 26 | Current | also a WR |
4.2. Personal bests
Murphy's personal best times are detailed below:
| Long Course | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Time | Meet | Date | Note(s) |
| 50 m freestyle | 23.77 | TYR Pro Swim Series - Des Moines | March 5, 2020 | |
| 100 m freestyle | 48.88 | 2017 US National Championships | June 27, 2017 | |
| 200 m freestyle | 1:49.57 | 2018 California Speedo Grand Challenge | May 25, 2018 | |
| 50 m backstroke | 24.24 | 2018 US National Championships | July 27, 2018 | Former AM, NR |
| 100 m backstroke | 51.85 | 2016 Summer Olympics | August 13, 2016 | AM, NR, Former WR |
| 200 m backstroke | 1:53.57 | 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships | August 11, 2018 | |
| 100 m butterfly | 51.35 | 2023 US National Championships | June 29, 2023 | |
| Short Course Meters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Time | Meet | Date | Note(s) |
| 50 m backstroke | 22.53 | 2021 International Swimming League | November 25, 2021 | AM, NR |
| 100 m backstroke | 48.50 | 2022 World Short Course Championships | December 14, 2022 | |
| 200 m backstroke | 1:47.34 | 2018 World Short Course Championships | December 16, 2018 | |
| 50 m butterfly | 22.65 | 2020 International Swimming League | November 22, 2020 | |
| Short Course Yards | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Time | Meet | Date | Note(s) |
| 100 y backstroke | 43.49 | 2016 NCAA Championships | March 25, 2016 | Former NCAA, American, US Open records |
| 200 y backstroke | 1:35.73 | 2016 NCAA Championships | March 26, 2016 | NCAA, American, US Open records |
5. Awards and honors
Ryan Murphy has received numerous awards and honors throughout his distinguished swimming career, recognizing his outstanding performances and contributions to the sport.
- International Swimming League, Match Most Valuable Player: 2021 Match 13
- Swimming World, The Week That Was: November 29, 2021 (#2)
- Golden Goggle Award, Male Athlete of the Year: 2018
- Golden Goggle Award, Relay Performance of the Year: 2018 (4x100-meter medley relay), 2021 (4x100-meter medley relay)
- Golden Goggle Award, Male Race of the Year: 2018 (100-meter backstroke)
- SwimSwam Top 100 (Men's): 2021 (#7), 2022 (#9)
- SwimSwam Swammy Award, U.S. Swimmer of the Year (male): 2018
- SwimSwam Swammy Award, NCAA Swimmer of the Year (male): 2014, 2016
- Pac-12 Conference, Scholar-Athlete of the Year (Men's Swimming & Diving): 2016-2017
- Pac-12 Conference, Swimmer of the Year: 2015, 2016, 2017
- Pac-12 Conference, Freshman/Newcomer of the Year: 2014
- Golden Goggle Award nominee, Breakout Performer of the Year: 2014
- Golden Goggle Award nominee, Male Athlete of the Year: 2021
6. Personal life
Ryan Murphy began dating Bridget Konttinen in 2016, whom he met in college. The couple announced their engagement on May 15, 2022. He is currently married to Evan Thomas. He stands 6.3 ft (1.91 m) (6 ft 3 in) tall and weighs 201 lb (91 kg) (201 lb).
In a 2021 interview, Murphy shared that he is approximately 95% Irish by ancestry, with his mother being of full Irish descent and his father approximately 90% Irish. He was raised in a strong Catholic family and maintains a commitment to his faith. He has stated, "I'm a firm believer in God. My faith is important to me. There are, however, times when I rely on him more than others. Overall, I am private in my spirituality."