Three-time 2016 Olympic Champion, Ryan Murphy, has been going through an adjustment period. His follow up at the 2017 World Championships was not where he wanted to be. Early in the 2018 Pro Series season, at Atlanta, Murphy showed signs he’s back on-track – 53.2 100 back win over Japan Roysuke Irie and 1:55.4 200 back topping Cal teammate Jacob Pebley.
Murphy was not rested in Atlanta and attributes the success to his focus in practice. “It took some time to get my focus back,” he said, after his stunning performance in Rio.
Murphy was open about his disappointment in the wake of 2017 World Championships. What will it take for Murphy to regain the title Greatest Backstroker on Earth this summer? I’m thinking, 51.79 100m back and 1:53.57 200m back. What do you think?
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Coleman Stewart WILL be the greatest backstroker pf all time.
Ryan, just sign up for one of those meal-planning kit companies that make the food for you.
Your Spaghetti Recipe sounds more like a Mess-ipe.
He’ll be back on top this year, though the 200 might be more of a challenge.
Piersol is the man. Period.
I think Pebley is going to beat him one of these days. There’s no way he can hold him off forever.
Thinking about more, I do not think I have ever seen Pebley beat him. I’ve watched Murphy out touch him about 90 times in Grand Prix events, but I’ve never seen Pebley get the touch.
Murphy holds all the backstroke records except 200 LCM. Why is there a ? in the title of this article?
All the backstroke records besides the 200 LCM?
There is only one other Backstroke event… lol
you forgot SCY (and the US doesn’t take SCM seriously)
If pan pacs is outside again I’m thinking 52.3 and 1:53.8-ish. He has sorted out his issue of swimming crooked from his early college days but swimming outside is never an easy task. I think he’ll throw down some serious times the next two years but I definitely think his focus is on Tokyo. Wouldn’t be unreasonable to think he could be 51.5 and 1:52.4 or faster in Tokyo.
I agree with the 100 prediction but I feel his 200 will be a bit better, in the 1:52.9-1:53.2 range
I think Murphy is going to dominant Pan Pacs this year, I’m going to say he goes 52.0 and 1:53.4. However, I think the real challenge for him is Euros, as Kolesnikov will show what he is made of in long course, and we will see what shape Rylov is in after injury. At the asian games we’ll see if Xu can back up his incredible 2018.
Murphy is arguably the most talented backstroker in the world (though Kolesnikov might have something to say about that) and I think he can come back to the top. It will not be as cut and dry as before.