It’s a girl!
Team USA swimmer Ryan Murphy doesn’t just have another Olympic medal to celebrate after his session on Monday — he also learned he’s going to become a girl dad in the coming months.
Murphy, who won bronze in the men’s 100-meter backstroke on Monday night, looked up into the stands after his race to see his wife, Bridget Konttinen, holding up a sign that read, “Ryan, It’s a Girl!”
“I was walking back around and Bridget was holding up a sign and it said — ‘Ryan, it’s a girl,’” Murphy said. “That was the first time I heard the gender.”
Murphy, who has won seven Olympic medals in his career, told reporters following his swim that the baby girl is due in January.
“We both — we honestly both thought it was going to be a boy,” the Olympian continued.
“And everyone — like everyone — we were talking to, they thought it was going to be a boy.”
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The 29-year-old earned a third consecutive medal in the 100-meter backstroke in Paris, after winning gold in Rio and bronze in Tokyo.
A captain of the 2024 USA team, Murphy still holds the Olympic record in the event from his first-place finish in 2016.
Despite the excitement of stepping onto the podium for the third Olympic Games in a row, Murphy said his attention definitely turned to the news of his future child.
“I think that just kind of like lit me up.” he said. “And really brought this night to a whole other level.”
Murphy said he’s excited about the changes that fatherhood is certain to bring into his life.
“Up to this point, swimming has really been the most important thing in my life,” he said. “Pretty much every major decision I make is with swimming in mind, and that’s going to change coming up. I’m really looking forward to what’s coming.”
Murphy will be back in the pool on Wednesday to compete in the 200-meter backstroke.