Ryan Murphy (photo: Mike Lewis)
Ryan Murphy, 3-time Olympic gold medalist, needs adrenaline. Ryan loves to race in a huge facility hearing the fans. Coming off of World Championships in Budapest was a little bit of a let down. Since Worlds, Ryan has had his nose to the grindstone, focusing a lot more on backstroke. He also got into training quicker this fall then last year. Without the tension of an NCAA Champs in March, Ryan does feel it will be a challenge to stay motivated over the long training haul of the spring, and he’s working on that with Cal Coach David Durden. Staying motivated could mean a spring meet he rests for or a test-set he’s challenged to improve on throughout the season. Whatever it is, we’ll follow up with him to hear the results in April.
Coming off of 2017 World Championships — bronze in the 100 back (52.59) and silver in the 200 back (1:54.21) — what does Ryan need to do to reclaim the glory of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio? Will 51.8 100 back and 1:53.6 200 back be enough to top the 2018 World Rankings? I think Ryan’s got 1:52+ 200 back and 51.3 100 back potential, but I think it’ll be 2019-20 before we see those swims. What do you think?
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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.
I find pretty funny that in every topic enters Dressel and there have been just a few comments about Murphy, whilst Murphy’s role looks to me really strategical for Usa swimming towards Tokyo2020, because the historic leadership of Usa in backstroke could be seriously contested.
1) At last Worlds all the three backstroke titles were won by non-Usa swimmers (a French, a Chinese and a Russian)
2) Russian backstrokers could become in next seasons incredibly competitive: 22 year-old Tarasevich, a 53.0 backstroker fifth at last Worlds in 100 back final, for swimming at next Worlds or Olympics shall have to defeat at least one of two athletes of amazing talent: Rylov (1996) and fast-rising Kolesnikov (2000), even a possible Russian… Read more »
I like how a video about Ryan Murphy turned into a fight about Caeleb Dressel in the comments
My bad guys, sorry!!!
lol
Murphy getting Bolles-ed over.
Mel, I think what makes Dressel so exciting is the events he is swimming. The sprints. Phelps and Lochte were stroke specialists and medley swimmers not sprinters. Dressel is making a run to be the fastest swimmer ever if not already in textile and has a legitimate shot to unseat the supersuit WRs. He’ll have to do everything perfectly to pull that off.
Dude phelps wasn’t a sprinter. But If he wasn’t swimming the 400IM along with the 200 free, he would have pulverized dressel in the sprints. This is not speculation. This is reality. Yes, dressel has a massive start but phelps would have whooped him with his insane turns if he didn’t swim all those other races especially the 200 free and 400IM.
Did you see his turn in the 4×100 free relay in rio?
And that was at the age of 31. Imagine a young 23 year old phelps at the 2008 Olympics not swimming the 200 free and 400IM, just concentrating on the sprints. If his turns pulverized everybody at the age of 31, imagine what he… Read more »
Also never even peaked. Imagine 24-27 year old phelps training consistently the way he did before ’08. Probably coulda been 1:53 2IM, 49-mid 100 fly textile, etc. Greatest swimmer ever got that title despite effectively skipping/waffling through his best 3 years. If you take him/Bowman at their word about how he prepped for London then his times there are literally insane.
I agree with you that if he actually cared enough to keep going and go into a sprinting based schedule, Peak Phelps would have been better than what Dressel is…..right now. Don’t forget tht Dressel never did long course fly before this year, and he nearly broke the super suited world record. I think when Dressel hits his peak, he’s going to be a better sprinter than Phelps could ever be. Of course Dressel will never and should never be considered the better overall swimmer. Phelps legitimately could have set world records in 100 free, 100 back, 100 fly, 200 free, 200 back, 200 fly, 200im, 400im, and 400 free if really focused on it (separate years of course). But… Read more »
Pulverised dressel in sprints … deluded
I wonder if Ryan Murphy will be the one to take down Aaron Peirsol’s 1:51.92. That is an under appreciated record IMO. Murphy has the speed – hopefully focusing on long course will help his endurance for the longer race.
Perhaps Kolesnikov will.?
I have always thought that Peirsol’s 200 back record is just off from the men’s 200 free record in terms of how impressive it is. Lochte has been the closest since (I think?) and was a full second off.
200m back? – Going under 1:51.9 without a rubberized-floatation-full-body-techsuit would be insane.
Peirsol wasn’t wearing a full body. He was only in legs… Makes it a little less daunting.
Good point — the difference is about 1 foot of material on the lower legs. However, the rubberized flotation suit possible helped keep those hips high on the final 50 when the legs are dying and the body is sinking…
It seems early to be talking about Tokyo. Lets see what happens at 2019 worlds first perhaps.
Dressel. Tokoyo, Gold: 50m free,100m free, 100m fly, 4×100 free, 4×200 free, 4×100 medley. Silver: 200m IM. Bronze: 200m free. That’s how I predict tokoyo will happen. I hope for 8 golds but I don’t want a phelps comparison because that’s not fair
No way he wins the 50 free or the 100 free if he swims the 200 free and the 200 IM at olympic games.
people also said there was no way he’d do the 50 free, 100 fly double at worlds and look at how that worked out for him
I just can’t wait to see Alex Walsh tear it up this summer.
Bobo GIGI! Where have you been?
HERE’S MY STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS RESPONSE:
– I would agree with you….but folks doubted Phelps would win 8, and I didn’t see or predict Dressel winning 7 golds at WC.
– I wonder what Dressel would do in the 400m free?
– I think it’s the safe bet to side with you on this (if I had to put down hard money).
– I think it’s harder to train for the 200 and win the 50-100 free. It’s just tough.
– Winning 50-100 free at the same event is off the charts impressive.
– could someone please comment on Ryan Murphy since this post is a/him…………………..
I know it’s wrong, but I’m losing faith in Murph’s ability to repeat at the olympics by the minute. Specially considering what the Ruskies are putting on the board. To me he just looks content with his placing at Worlds. I would expect that result to motivate him but it just seems like he’s taking it. I think he misses the NCAA, and I’m getting some almost post 2015 Missy vibes (which can’t be good for an international career). I also think the huge Speedo contract is maybe making life too comfy for him and traveling is hindering practices.
I would love to be wrong, and I hope he proves me wrong. I think maybe the cal undergrads can help… Read more »
I just don’t see him losing 200 IM or 200 Free if he swims them. Who is gonna beat him? Sun? Townley? Chase? Hagino? Idk about that
I think it’s more likely he doesn’t swim one of the 200s cause him or coaches think he can’t rather than him swimming one and losing it. But this is the olympics and he knows what’s on the line. I say he surpasses Phelps’ record cause of the mixed relays
lol what? you think Dressel can easily beat Sun in the 200 free and Chase in the 200 IM? Might I remind you Sun is one of the greatest swimmers of all time (and Chase keeps getting faster).
I fully agree with you about both Sun and Chase, I have tremendous respect for both of them. I just feel like Dressel hasn’t even scratched the surface of his potential. I’ve been following him for a very long time… I just feel like he is that good. I think he will go down as the best swimmer ever.
I just see something in him that even Phelps didn’t have, and I haven’t seen a reason why he won’t be able to dominate a 200 yet. It took him a while to figure out a short course 100 (see 2015 NCAA), just behind that was figuring out the long course 100 (and even 50 to a certain extent). Right… Read more »
I heard a rumor Dressel may compete in the high jump at tokyo?
Ha!!!!! I’d like to see that.
i would rather see him run a 200 meters flat
I’d like to see pole vault. Sure, that takes a lot of precise skill, but with his ups and jacked shoulders, he has the right toolkit.
Dressel and Adrian are true gentleman with integrity and class. Both men are an inspiration to young impressionable swimmers. Both are remarkable ambassadors for the sport and for USA Swimming. They represent everything good in athletics.
lol I agree but this article is about Murphy??