Olympic Medalists Bronte Barratt, Patrick Murphy Welcome First Child

Last week Australian Olympians Bronte Barratt and husband Patrick Murphy welcomed the arrival of their son, William Oswald Murphy. William, their first child, weighed 3.6kg and measured 54cm, Barratt announced on Instagram.

Barratt first represented Australia on the national stage in 2006, when she won silver in the 400 free and gold in the 800 free relay a the World Short Course Championships. A year later, in 2007, she broke Australia’s longest-standing national record, beating the previous record-holder Tracey Wickham‘s time from 29 years prior. Barratt, whose grandmother represented Australia at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne in the long jump, was a member of three Olympic teams for Australia. At her first Olympics, in 2008, she swam the second leg of an Australian 800 free relay that would break the previous world record by over six seconds, winning gold in the process. She was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her effort.

Four years later, at the London Olympics, she took bronze in the 200 free, as well as silver as a member of the 800 free relay. She finished her career in Rio, helping Australia to a silver medal in the 800 free relay.

More recently she has served as a member of the Australian Swimmers’ Association, who serve as voting stakeholders of Swimming Australia.

Murphy also represented Australia at the Olympics in 2008, swimming on the country’s 400 and 800 free relays that both won bronze. He also served as an Athlete Role Model for the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics.

The couple resides in Queensland, whose largest city, Brisbane, recently put a hold on their bid for the 2032 Olympic Games.