Four-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Murphy showed out at the Mission Viejo Pro Swim, dropping a solid 53.3 100 back and a 1:57.5 200 back.
In this interview Murphy shares that his base of training is much greater than it was last year heading into the 2022 U.S. World Championships Trials. However, in the 2022 off-season he says he was down twenty pounds of muscle mass. On social he even shared that a DXA (Dual X-ray Absorptiometry) scan output of his lean muscle mass weight was down 20lbs, and they were all fasted tests. Based on his Mission performance, Ryan appears to be back in race-shape, and I’m bullish on his U.S. World Champ Trials swims coming up in June.
Ryan Murphy 2023 U.S. World Champ “Trials” Predictions:
Last year at the 2022 U.S. Trials Murphy was:
- 52.4 in the 100 back, 2nd to Hunter Armstrong
- 1:55 flat in the 200 back, touching first
This year at U.S. Trials I think he’s going to be:
- 52.19 in the 100 back, 2nd to Hunter who touches in 51.9
- 1:54.8 in the 200 back, cruising for the win
We’ll play the World Champs Prediction Game after Trials… But who cares what I think. It’s all about what you think. Drop your comments below.
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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 wonder how he determined the 20 lbs came from muscle. I think underwater weighing can determine it but most aren’t doing that.
He said they did a body composition test
He carries much of it within his shoulders. I don’t think I’ve seen a swimmer with wider shoulders.
Ben Proud. who??
Trenything is possible
Just curious: Has he recently tried competing a season at a lower weight? How are they sure that more muscle mass covers to faster swimming?
He’s been elite for almost a decade. Would be great if, just for science sake, he did one season without lifting to get a comparison.
That’s how much muscle mass Adam Peaty probably needs to lose if he is to get back to his peak. I think he is carrying too much weight.
His neck is 20 pounds.
I hope someday if I lose 20 pounds swimswam will write an article about it too
I’d just like to lose 20lb. I don’t care whether anyone writes about it!
I lost thirty pounds without realizing it, until my pants started falling down. My internist was terribly impressed. This was the only accolade I needed; in any case, the Washington Post doesn’t run articles titled, “Unknown Cleveland Park Housewife Drops Thirty.” (Then I bought new knit pants with drawstrings at the waist.)
I don’t think I have 20 pounds of muscle period! He is body is definitely thicker than most of the elite backstrokers these days. I wonder if this helps or hurts?
Mel’s interviews are tough to watch IMO. It seems like he is trying to be their buddy with these swimmers. Not professional journalism.
Agreed. Plus, the beard stroking is spooky. Lose it.
Y’all are harsh damn 💀
100% fair. Certainly since the pandemic, and certainly since the mental health of swimmers has increasingly become a topic. (I should note that Murph is open to any questions.) However, when I’ve called strikes or asked elephant in the room questions (again, since the pandemic), I’ve gotten push back from “some” elites. Not all elites are like that, but the few that are make an impression. Still, it’s on me to address tough questions in a way that gets the point across. So, thanks for feedback.
Gosh this is why we love you Mel. So open to feedback. The goat 🐐
Yeah , this was good give and take.
TwENty POunDs of mUsCLE… lmao I absolutely despise the media and how they play this crap. Like saying oh look how I gained 20 pounds of muscle in 6months. It was absolutely natural and I promise. If the man “lost 20 pounds of muscle in the off season” he has AIDS that’s it
If you watch the video, he says he had a body comp test done. Don’t confuse this story with an ad for Oprah’s keto gummies.
He’s saying he was juiced
You’re not too popular here.