Ryan Murphy Has Been “Inked”

Three-time Olympic gold-medalist Ryan Murphy has commemorated his success at this summer’s Rio Games by getting the Olympic rings tattooed on his shoulder. Murphy has the latissimi dorsii (also known as “lats” or “wings,” as the cool kids call them) of a manta ray, so he had plenty of real estate available to showcase the international symbol of athleticism. Murphy’s wings are on display below in an Instagram post from his Cal and Olympic teammate, Jacob Pebley:

 

The 21-year-old, who will begin his senior year at the University of California, Berkeley this fall, won gold individually in both the 100m and 200m Backstroke, and also as a member of the 4 x 100m Medley Relay (setting a new World Record in the 100m Backstroke as the leadoff leg). American swimmers who punch their tickets to the Olympics often get this symbolic tattoo to publicly display their membership into such an elite club. The list includes: Michael Phelps (hip), Matt Grevers (bicep), Ryan Lochte (bicep), Missy Franklin (hip), Dana Vollmer (lower back), and Conor Dwyer (bicep). Check out SwimSwam’s Instagram Gallery for more freshly inked 2016 Swimming Olympians from all over the world. Perhaps the most famous name missing from the list is Natalie Coughlin, who told The New York Times in 2012 that she “can’t commit to one.”

Despite comparing the sensation of getting a tattoo to having a torch placed on his skin, Murphy said he was excited about the result. He posted a picture of his freshly inked shoulder via his Instagram account:

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Swimgeekgirl
7 years ago

I’m a little bit confused right now. I was under the impression that one had to attend the Olympic Games in order to receive permission to get the Olympic Rings Tattoo. However, in the New York Times article, Nicholas Walkotten had gotten an Olympic ring tattoo when he was in high school and has never attended the Olympic Games.

What’s the actual criteria?

Admin
Reply to  Swimgeekgirl
7 years ago

Swimgeekgirl – there’s no laws on the matter. Anyone can walk into their local tattoo shop and get a tattoo of the Olympic rings, in the Untied States. It’s protected by the 1st amendment.

weirdo
7 years ago

Others without Olympic Ring tattoos: Katie Ledecky, Allison Schmitt, and Nathan Adrian…..a total of 8 Olympics and MANY medals. Some people don’t need the tattoo to be ‘Olympians’

Charlie
7 years ago

Good for Ryan. I’m also happy to support those Olympians who decide not to get inked, for whatever reason.

Coachandy
7 years ago

That is the sweetest tattoo.

Mac
7 years ago

Just a little thing, he didn’t get the world record in the individual – he got it on the relay lead off.

Joel Lin
7 years ago

The most exclusive club in sports & the only tattoo you have to earn to get.

Yada
Reply to  Joel Lin
7 years ago

Ehhh. There are thousands of Olympians every quadrennial. So many BS “sports” in there now. Kinda detracts from the exclusivity.

Also gahddamn is Murphy jacked or what? I don’t remember him looking like that at the Olympics

Zika Ziki
Reply to  Yada
7 years ago

Ehh… Murphy has been looking that jacked this year.
Olympians may not be the most exclusive club in sports, but in terms of global recognition, it’s up there.

Yada
Reply to  Zika Ziki
7 years ago

I stand by my statement

Mission Bay Alum
Reply to  Yada
7 years ago

No. You have to earn the US Marine Corps tattoo as well.

Joel Lin
Reply to  Mission Bay Alum
7 years ago

Of course, and I certainly don’t aim to slight that.

Anyone who thinks there is something in sports higher than the Olympics is nuts.

Dawgpaddle
Reply to  Mission Bay Alum
7 years ago

A Trident is earned by only a few – SEALS!

coacherik
Reply to  Yada
7 years ago

I know, Yada! Thousands of Olympians every four years relative to BILLIONS of people on the planet, hardly an exclusive club right?

558 athletes from the US out of an approximate 319 million people, a YUGE .00000175% of the population. Just about anyone and everyone is getting through that velvet rope into the party….

Yada
Reply to  coacherik
7 years ago

Be as personally insulted as you want to be, but to give one example there are only 450 roster spots in the NBA at any given time, and only about 5000 people have ever played in the league

coacherik
Reply to  Yada
7 years ago

I am not personally insulted by your comment. Just pointing out that you are splitting hairs on how exclusive a club is, making it to the Olympics is pretty exclusive, no matter how little you think of someone’s sport.. The NBA is a very exclusive club and if they want to put a tat of Jerry West on their body, so be it. I just think its funny that you knock on it like its some how not a major milestone or achievement and some how the offerings in the Olympics some how lessens the rings tattoo, as if some how those lesser events are not as competitive. Do you even know how to dressage?

Yada
Reply to  coacherik
7 years ago

“The most exclusive club in sports” was the original assertion. I provided a dissenting opinion. Sorry it russled so many jimmies.

CLTCoach
Reply to  Yada
7 years ago

Thousands of Olympians out how many billion people?

Name
Reply to  Joel Lin
7 years ago

Iron man tattoo

dmswim
Reply to  Name
7 years ago

50k people per year complete Ironman triathlons so while you do have to “earn” it, it’s not nearly as exclusive or prestigious. Also, I’ve seen people who get one for completing a half ironman.