American · Rochester, USA · Born 6 April 1995American swimmer and multiple Olympic champion, widely regarded as one of the greatest backstroke swimmers in history with dominance across multiple Games.
Born on April 6, 1995, in Chicago, Illinois, the future backstroke champion grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, where he developed his swimming skills at the Bolles School, a renowned institution for producing elite swimmers. Murphy's talent emerged early under the guidance of experienced coaches who recognized his natural aptitude for backstroke events. Murphy's breakthrough came during his collegiate years at the University of California, Berkeley, where he dominated NCAA competition while training under coach Dave Durden. His rise to international prominence culminated at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he delivered spectacular performances that established him as the world's premier backstroker. He captured gold medals in both the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke events, setting Olympic records in both disciplines. His underwater dolphin kick technique and powerful stroke mechanics became textbook examples of backstroke excellence. The swimmer's defining achievements include his world record performances and sustained dominance across multiple international competitions. At the 2017 World Championships in Budapest, Murphy continued his winning streak, claiming gold medals in his signature events. His rivalry with Russian swimmer Evgeny Rylov produced some of the most compelling backstroke racing in recent memory, pushing both athletes to exceptional performances. Murphy successfully defended his Olympic titles at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, though facing increased competition from international rivals. Murphy's technical innovations, particularly his underwater work and streamlined approach, have influenced backstroke training methods worldwide. His consistency at the highest level, maintaining world-leading times across multiple Olympic cycles, demonstrates remarkable longevity in a demanding sport. Beyond individual achievements, his contributions to American relay teams have been substantial, often providing crucial leads during backstroke legs. Murphy's career represents a golden era for American backstroke swimming, inspiring a new generation of swimmers while cementing his status among the greatest backstrokers in competitive swimming history.
World record holder and Olympic champion in backstroke events
How They Played
Technical backstroke specialist with exceptional underwater phase
Lasting Impact
One of the greatest backstroke swimmers in history
Career Honours
- Olympic Gold Medal 100m Backstroke Rio 2016
- Olympic Gold Medal 200m Backstroke Rio 2016
- Olympic Gold Medal 4x100m Medley Relay Rio 2016
- Olympic Silver Medal 100m Backstroke Tokyo 2020
- Olympic Gold Medal 4x100m Medley Relay Tokyo 2020
- World Championship Gold Medal 100m Backstroke Budapest 2017
- World Championship Gold Medal 200m Backstroke Budapest 2017
- World Championship Gold Medal 4x100m Medley Relay Budapest 2017
- US Olympic Trials Champion 100m Backstroke 2016
- US Olympic Trials Champion 200m Backstroke 2016
- NCAA Championship titles representing University of California Berkeley
- American Record 100m Backstroke
American Athletes