Ross Murdoch
Born Jan. 14, 1994 Murdoch is a Scottish swimmer that represents both Great Britain and Scotland. Murdoch is a breaststroke specialist, and trains at the University of Stirling with Coach Ben Higson.
Murdoch began swimming around 6 years old, and cites his father as being the inspiration that pushed him to achieve his success.
Personal life
Murdoch has mentioned in numerous outlets that his father has influenced his swimming success, but he also looks to all of the swimming champions, and their emotion drives him to be the best he can be. He is a Star Wars fan, claiming that if he weren’t a swimmer, he’d be a jedi knight, and the person he’d most like to meet is Luke Skywalker.
National competition
In 2012 Murdoch’s first breakthrough performance happened at the British GAS Swimming Championships. He finished seventh overall in the 200m breaststroke, dropping seven seconds in the process. His top-eight finish got him on the roster for the European Junior Championships in Antwerp.
The following year in 2013 Murdoch rose from seventh to being in medal contention at the British GAS Championships. He finished with a gold medal in the 100m breaststroke, and he won bronze in the 50m distance.
International competition
In 2013 Murdoch competed in his first senior international competition at the World Championships in Barcelona. He made it to the semi-final of the 200m breaststroke.
At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Murdoch really solidified his spot on top of the world’s best breaststrokers. He won the 200m breaststroke, and also picked up a bronze in the 100m breaststroke for Scotland, where he broke the British and Commonwealth Record in the 200m breaststroke. Later that month at the European Championships, Murdoch won two silver medals.
2015 World Championships
Going into the 2015 World Championships as one of the fastest breakstrokers in the world, Murdoch competed in the 100-meter breaststroke. Murdoch didn’t have the best semi-final performance, and just snuck into the championship final with an 8th-place finish. The Scot stuck to his race plan, and touched the wall in 3rd place behind Adam Peaty and Cameron Van Der Bergh. His time of just over 59 seconds was nearly a one second drop, and was a new Scottish Record.
2016 European Championships
Murdoch’s preparations for the Olympics took him to the European Championships in London where he got a medal of every color. He became European champion in the 200 meter breaststroke finishing in 2:08.33. He added a silver behind British teammate Adam Peaty in the 100 meter breaststroke touching in 59.73. He picked his bronze medal up in the 50 meter breaststroke finishing in 27.31.
2016 Olympic Games
In his Olympic debut Murdoch missed a spot in the 100 meter breaststroke final, finishing 11th in 1:00.05. Despite winning the event at the European championships, Murdoch wasn’t in the field for the 200 meter breaststroke after failing to qualify at the British Olympic Trials.
2017 World Championships
At his second World Championships Murdoch was eyeing another medal again after sneaking in the final in the 100 meter breaststroke. This time however couldn’t make it onto the podium and finished 8th in 59.45. He was back again in the 200 meter breaststroke final where he finished 4th in 2:08.12.