History of Ryan Murphy (swimmer) in Timeline

Ryan Fitzgerald Murphy is an accomplished American competitive swimmer known for his expertise in backstroke. He has won four Olympic gold medals and formerly held the world record for the men's 100-meter backstroke.

July 2, 1995: Birth of Ryan Murphy

Ryan Fitzgerald Murphy, an American competitive swimmer specializing in backstroke, was born on July 2, 1995.

2011: First International Medals

At the age of 16, Ryan Murphy earned his first international medals in the 200-meter backstroke. He won a bronze medal at the World Junior Swimming Championships and another bronze at the Pan American Games.

2012: 2012 World Short Course Championships

Following the Olympics, Murphy participated in the 2012 World Short Course Championships. He won a bronze medal in the 200-meter backstroke and a gold medal in the 4x100-meter medley relay.

2012: 2012 United States Olympic Trials

Ryan Murphy narrowly missed qualifying for the Olympic team at the 2012 US Olympic Trials, finishing sixth in the 100-meter backstroke and fourth in the 200-meter backstroke.

2013: High School Graduation

Ryan Murphy graduated from Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida in 2013.

2013: 2013 US National Championships

Ryan Murphy narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2013 World Aquatics Championships, finishing third in both the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke events at the US National Championships.

2014: NCAA Champion

Ryan Murphy won the 100-yard and 200-yard backstrokes at the NCAA Championships in 2014.

2015: 2015 NCAA Championships

Ryan Murphy dominated the backstroke events at the 2015 NCAA Championships, winning both the 100-yard and 200-yard events and breaking American records in the process. He was also named CSCAA Swimmer of the Meet.

2016: 2016 Summer Olympics

At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Ryan Murphy achieved a clean sweep in backstroke events, securing gold in both the 100-meter and 200-meter races. He also contributed to the gold-winning 4x100-meter medley relay team, setting a new world record in the process.

2016: Beginning of Relationship

Ryan Murphy began dating Bridget Konttinen after meeting at a coffee shop in 2016.

2016: 2016 NCAA D1 Swimming Championships

Ryan Murphy continued his winning streak in 2016 at the NCAA D1 Swimming Championships, setting new records in both the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke. He shared the title of CSCAA Swimmer of the Meet with his former Bolles teammates, Joseph Schooling and Caeleb Dressel.

2016: Olympic Games Participation

Ryan Murphy participated in the Olympic Games, marking a significant milestone in his swimming career.

2016: 2016 United States Olympic Trials

Ryan Murphy secured his spot on the Olympic team by winning the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke events at the US Olympic Trials.

2016: NCAA Champion

Ryan Murphy won the 100-yard and 200-yard backstrokes at the NCAA Championships in 2016.

2017: 2017 NCAA Championships

At the 2017 NCAA Championships, Ryan Murphy achieved a remarkable feat, becoming the fourth man in NCAA history to win both the 100-yard and 200-yard events in a single stroke for four consecutive years.

2017: 2017 World Swimming Championships

At the 2017 World Swimming Championships, Ryan Murphy won two gold medals in relay events and earned a bronze in the 100-meter backstroke and a silver in the 200-meter backstroke.

August 2018: 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships

Ryan Murphy won three gold medals at the 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Tokyo: the 100-meter backstroke, the 200-meter backstroke (setting a new Championship record), and the 4x100-meter medley relay.

December 2018: 2018 FINA World Swimming Championships

Ryan Murphy participated in the 2018 FINA World Swimming Championships, where he won a total of six medals: three gold (100-meter backstroke, men's 4x100-meter medley relay, mixed 4x50-meter medley relay), two silver (50-meter backstroke, 200-meter backstroke), and one bronze (men's 4x50-meter medley relay).

2018: Golden Goggle Awards

Ryan Murphy's performance at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships earned him three Golden Goggle Awards from USA Swimming: Relay Performance of the Year, Male Race of the Year, and Male Athlete of the Year.

July 2019: 2019 World Aquatics Championships

In July 2019, at the World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, Ryan Murphy won silver medals in the men's 200-meter backstroke, the men's 4×100-meter medley relay, and the mixed 4×100-meter medley relay, where he swam with Lilly King, Caeleb Dressel, and Simone Manuel.

2020: Appointed Captain of US Olympic Swim Team

Acknowledging his experience and leadership qualities, Ryan Murphy was chosen as one of four captains for the US Olympic swim team at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

2020: 2020 Summer Olympics

During the 2020 Summer Olympics, Ryan Murphy secured a silver medal in the 200-meter backstroke.

2020: Looking Ahead to 2020 Olympics

Following his success at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo, Ryan Murphy expressed his hope that competing in a pool near the venue for the 2020 Summer Olympics would help alleviate any performance anxieties.

2020: International Swimming League

Ryan Murphy participated in the 2020 International Swimming League (ISL) season, setting records that he later surpassed in 2021.

2020: 2020 Summer Olympics Qualification

Ryan Murphy qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics in the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke events.

June 2021: 2020 USA Swimming Olympic Trials

In June 2021, at the 2020 USA Swimming Olympic Trials, Ryan Murphy secured his qualification for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo by winning the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 52.33. He also triumphed in the 200-meter backstroke, securing his place in this event at the Olympics.

2021: Shared Irish Ancestry and Faith

In a 2021 interview, Ryan Murphy revealed his strong Irish heritage and discussed his Roman Catholic upbringing and faith.

2021: Secured Place on US National Team

Ryan Murphy's performances throughout 2021 earned him a spot on the 2021–2022 US National Team for the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke events.

2021: International Swimming League

Ryan Murphy, competing for the LA Current in the 2021 International Swimming League (ISL) season, achieved a season-best time of 1:48.43 in the 200-meter backstroke during the playoffs. He was also recognized as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in one of the playoff matches.

May 15, 2022: Engagement Announcement

Ryan Murphy and Bridget Konttinen publicly announced their engagement on May 15, 2022.

2022: 2022 US International Team Trials and World Championships Qualification

In the 2022 US International Team Trials, Ryan Murphy qualified for the World Aquatics Championships in the 200-meter backstroke, winning the event, and in the 100-meter backstroke, finishing second. He was later selected for the 2022 World Short Course Championships in the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke events.