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Why Does Olympic Champion Ryan Murphy Get Nervous Before Competing?

Olympic champion and world record holder Ryan Murphy has not missed an international team since 2013, and with all of that experience he still gets nervous behind the blocks.  Ryan explains the reality of battling competition nerves and more in this interview.

All elites were asked the same question in Greensboro, N.C. at U.S. International Team Trials–about how the absence of the Russian stars (due to the Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine) would impact World Championships. For Ryan, this question felt more pointed. Evgeny Rylov is, of course, the Russian 100 and 200 backstroke 2020 Olympic Champion. His absence feels pronounced, like a gaping void.  Ryan answers this question diplomatically noting it is a World Championships, and in his words the field will be competitive no matter what.

2022 Ryan Murphy World Champs Predictions

Murphy’s 2016 Olympic sweep marked his top form, save his 1:53.57 200m back PB and his near-PB 51.9 100 back at the 2018 Pan Pacs. (He was 1:53.6 200 back and 51.8 100 back at the 2016 Olympics.) I think this World Champs, in this post Olympic year, will mark Ryan’s return to the top of the podium. I see this as an important first step on the road to Paris in 2024.

100 back – 52.1 for the gold, edging Hunter Armstrong

200 back – 1:54.3 for the gold (though I’m already feeling like this is too conservative, thinking that Murph might dip under, notching a 1:53.9)

But who cares what I think. It’s all about what you think. Drop your comments below.

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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.

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Gheko
2 years ago

He is not Olympic Champion he is a former Olympic champion

Mr Piano
Reply to  Gheko
2 years ago

He literally won a gold medal in Tokyo.

And once an Olympic champion, always an Olympic Champion, you can’t have that taken away from you, ever.

boi
2 years ago

when is the last time soemone went sub 153 in the 200 back

jeff
Reply to  boi
2 years ago

well Lochte holds the textile wr at 1:52.96 from 2011 so I’m guessing that

turboturtle
2 years ago

1:51.9 in a lzr legskin is pretty crazy. Peirsol has/had a great backstroke!

SWIMGUY12345
Reply to  turboturtle
2 years ago

That’s because it wasn’t. He wore an Arena X-glide which was definitely the most elite supersuit besides Jaked.

CraigH
2 years ago

“Why does Olympic Champion Ryan Murphy get nervous before proposing to his girlfriend?”

Swimmer
Reply to  CraigH
2 years ago

This is just the latest of articles in the “Ryan series”

Gold Medal Mel
Reply to  Swimmer
2 years ago

…I’m down with a Ryan series.

Texas Tap Water
2 years ago

Because he is a champion

Mr Piano
2 years ago

I think Armstrong wins the 100 honestly, 52.0 or sub 52 for gold. Murphy 52.2/1:53.9.
My predictions are usually trash like yours though so I’m not betting much lol

Peaty55Paris
Reply to  Mr Piano
2 years ago

Damn had to throw shade at Mel like that?

Gold Medal Mel
Reply to  Peaty55Paris
2 years ago

…brutal…crawling und

Gold Medal Mel
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel
2 years ago

…brutal… crawling under my desk now

Gold Medal Mel
Reply to  Mr Piano
2 years ago

Armstrong obviously has the nitro to breakthrough, but after his Olympic experience, frankly, would just like to see him race in the final and make the podium.

Tomek
2 years ago

Because he is human?

Gold Medal Mel
Reply to  Tomek
2 years ago

………when elites have been around a long time, there is that moment when you have to strive to create or manufacture excitement and tension. Doesn’t happen to everyone, but it is a thing.

SWIMGUY12345
2 years ago

Ryan Lochte went 1:52.9 in 2011. Jeez that shows you how good he was. Still the textile record and it’s not even close.

turboturtle
Reply to  SWIMGUY12345
2 years ago

And then he decided to focus on the IM’s against the GOAT. And beat him! What a swimmer!

eagleswim
Reply to  turboturtle
2 years ago

lochte’s 200 IM WR is from that same year so I think your timeline is a bit off

Gold Medal Mel
Reply to  eagleswim
2 years ago

I think the 200 IM WR is a bit soft, one to go down by 2024… 2-back feels out of reach…

boi
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel
2 years ago

bruh noone these days is even a second within

Last edited 2 years ago by boi
boi
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel
2 years ago

200 back def out of reach

Sir Swimsalot
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel
2 years ago

We thought Phelp’s 200 Fly record was out of reach until Milak obliterated it. Who knows what can happen in the next year or two!

Justhereforfun
Reply to  SWIMGUY12345
2 years ago

Well Larkin and Rylov have been 1.53 low, so they’ve been pretty close, but the fact that Lochte went that time 11 years ago is just nuts

olivy
Reply to  Justhereforfun
2 years ago

Irie went 1:53.26 in 2014 too.

Gold Medal Mel
Reply to  Justhereforfun
2 years ago

…lochte plagued himself with a lot of needless small injuries. The guy was hands down the fastest man underwater. He’d pop off 23s in 50m underwater in season…did that quite a lot over the years and into his 30s. (I still think 200 free-fly-back underwaters should all be 15 meters, and if you’re conditioned enough, should have no impact on that final 50. Once at that level of conditioning, you are stupidly dangerous in a world or olympic final. For most elites that’s 10-11 kicks off each wall.)

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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