{"id":458888,"date":"2021-01-05T14:10:46","date_gmt":"2021-01-05T21:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=458888"},"modified":"2021-01-06T07:54:05","modified_gmt":"2021-01-06T14:54:05","slug":"ultimate-swimmer-podcast-ryan-murphy-the-new-king-of-backstroke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/ultimate-swimmer-podcast-ryan-murphy-the-new-king-of-backstroke\/","title":{"rendered":"Ultimate Swimmer Podcast – Ryan Murphy: The New King of Backstroke"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ultimate Swimmer Podcast – Ryan Murphy: The New King of Backstroke<\/strong><\/p>\n

By NOAH YANCHULIS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ryan Murphy,<\/strong> a.k.a \u201cThe King of Backstroke,\u201d is a multi-time Olympic Gold Medalist and World Record Holder. At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Ryan came home with three gold medals (100\/200 backstroke, 400 medley relay) and broke Aaron Peirsol\u2019s<\/strong> world record in the 100 backstroke leading off the medley relay in a time of 51.85. Collegiately, Ryan swam four years at Cal Berkeley and was a dominant force at the NCAA Championships, becoming one of four swimmers ever to win the 100 and 200 of a stroke four years in a row. Ryan dominated the backstroke events, setting multiple NCAA records on his way to becoming one of the most decorated swimmers in NCAA history. Below are some highlights from our great interview with Ryan!<\/p>\n

\"ryan-murphy\"

Photo Courtesy: Mine Kasapoglu \/ ISL<\/p><\/div>\n

Summer League Relay Spot: <\/strong>Ryan Murphy joined his first summer league team in Jacksonville, Florida when he was only four years old. Summer league has been the catalyst for so many who have gone on to have extraordinary careers, but for Ryan he remembers \u201chating it\u201d until one shining moment. Ryan\u2019s coaches had to decide who the fourth swimmer would be on their 6 & Under 4 x 25 freestyle relay and it was between Ryan and his good friend Billy. Ryan was reluctant at first, but ultimately stepped up on the blocks to try to earn his spot on that relay. It was a close race but Ryan ended up winning and being able to represent his team at the Summer League Championships. This moment would be the fuel to the fire that started and continues to sustain an incredible swimming career.<\/p>\n

Best Swimming High School In the World: <\/strong>The Bolles School in Jacksonville is well know as one of the premier swimming high schools in the country and is responsible for producing some of the highest-caliber swimming talent of all-time. Names like Ryan Murphy, Joseph Schooling<\/strong>, Santo Condorelli <\/strong>and\u00a0Caeleb Dressel<\/strong><\/a> (didn\u2019t attend the school, but swam on the associated club team) <\/em>were all produced in the same city in Florida. Are you kidding me!? In my opinion this is one of the most under-recognized swimming facts as it relates to elite level swimming. Murphy. Schooling. Dressel. Condorelli. Unreal.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou Belong:\u201d Sergio Lopez<\/strong> was Ryan\u2019s coach at the Bolles School and in Ryan\u2019s words, \u201cI had Sergio at the perfect time in my career.\u201d Sergio taught his swimmers to understand that they belonged in the BIG heats at the BIG meets. When Ryan swam at the 2012 Olympic Trials, just days before his 17th birthday, he finished fourth and six, respectively, in the 100 and 200 backstroke. Ryan says, \u201cA year earlier I would have been terrified to be in that final, but Sergio made me feel like I belonged.\u201d<\/p>\n

Swimming with the Cal Pros: <\/strong>Ryan describes Nathan Adrian<\/strong> as \u201cChairman of the Board\u201d or \u201cThe Godfather,\u201d in that everyone at Cal (college guys and pros alike) want to be like Nathan and have a career like Nathan has had. In addition to Nathan, the group is comprised of Tom Shields<\/strong>, a guy who will \u201cpush his body to the absolute limit,\u201d and Josh Prenot<\/strong>,who is a guy that \u201cabsolutely loves to WORK.\u201d Finally, Andrew Seliskar<\/strong> rounds out the group and can swim nearly every event (2019 NCAA champion in the 200 IM, 200 free, 200 breast) and is a threat to push anyone in practice regardless of what Dave Durden<\/strong> throws at the guys. Swimming with such an accomplished and hardworking group has brought Ryan great success which he hopes to ride through the 2020 Olympics and beyond.<\/p>\n

Ryan\u2019s Favorite Stuff (Lightning Round!):<\/strong><\/p>\n