After nearly two years away from the sport, Ryan Murphy is back.
The 30-year-old American took some time away from the pool following the conclusion of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, and then last month, he returned to competition at the Pro Swim Series stop in Sacramento.
A five-time Olympic gold medalist, Murphy said he’s using this year as a “trial period” of sorts to see if he’s willing (and capable) of being a factor on the podium at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Competing for the second time this year at this week’s Pro Swim Series leg in Indianapolis, Murphy had the best performance of his comeback thus far on Wednesday, winning the men’s 100 backstroke in a time of 52.80.
The swim marked Murphy’s first time under 53 seconds since the Paris Olympics, dropping more than a second off his time from the Sacramento final (53.91) where he was the runner-up.
He moves into 8th in the 2025-26 world rankings after previously sitting outside of the top 25.
2025-2026 LCM Men 100 BACK
Jiayu
52.39
| 2 | Pieter COETZE | RSA | 52.40 | 04/14 |
| 3 | Oliver MORGAN | GBR | 52.41 | 04/16 |
| 4 | Kliment KOLESNIKOV | RUS | 52.51 | 06/10 |
| 5 | Apostolos CHRISTOU | GRE | 52.53 | 05/10 |
| 6 | Hubert Kos | HUN | 52.63 | 12/05 |
| 7 | Pavel Samusenko | RUS | 52.72 | 06/11 |
| 8 | Ryan Murphy | USA | 52.80 | 06/17 |
| 9 | Thomas CECCON | ITA | 53.16 | 04/16 |
| 10 | John SHORTT | IRL | 53.17 | 04/09 |
Murphy won the event on Wednesday over NC State’s Kaii Winkler (53.22) and Arizona State’s Adam Chaney (53.65).
RACE VIDEO
Courtesy of USA Swimming on YouTube
Murphy is also entered in the 50 back in Indianapolis, posting the fastest time of the prelim session on Thursday morning in 24.75, well under the 25.17 he produced in Sacramento, to move into 22nd in the world this season.
ABOUT FLUIDRA
At Fluidra, our mission is to create the perfect pool experience for all aquatic enthusiasts, from recreational swimmers to competitive athletes. We believe the perfect race starts with the perfect pool, which is why we provide superior, high-performance equipment and accessories. Whether for racing or relaxation, our leading brands — including S.R. Smith, Jandy, and Polaris and more — ensure an optimal aquatic environment, enhancing every swim experience.
SOCIAL
LINKEDIN: @Fluidra North America
FACEBOOK: @Fluidra North America
YOUTUBE: @FluidraNorthAmerica
INSTAGRAM @jandypool
FACEBOOK: @srsmithpools
INSTAGRAM: @srsmithpools
YOUTUBE: @srsmith
Fluidra is a SwimSwam Partner.
