Fighting for Olympic Dream After 8 Years, Ryan Murphy Shares Personal Anecdotes from Special Day: “Had a Good Feeling”

With the Paris Olympics beckoning the best athletes, the swimming idols of America are getting their affairs in order. The excitement for the biggest athletic showdown is soaring high, but that has not undercut the joy of watching the players making strides in their personal lives. One such athlete, Ryan Murphy who is a 4x Olympic gold medalist from Illinois shared a happy update before diving back into training.

The former 100-meter backstroke record holder, Ryan Murphy tied the knot on September 30, just 14 days before he was due to return to the pool. The college sweethearts tied the knot in a glamorous ceremony and shared pictures that had everyone going gaga over their fairytale wedding. The athlete is still in his honeymoon phase and took some time off from the pool to reveal the secrets of their strong bond.

Love for swimming and fitness solidifies marriage bonds

Ryan Murphy is once again training with Brett Hawke to regain his world record in the backstroke races. He hopes to become a three-time Olympian in 2024 and return from France with new jewels around his neck. However, the most important jewel in his life is his wife, Bridget Konttinen. They met as student-athletes at the University of California, Berkeley.

She played for the rowing team, while Murphy was the University’s best swimmer. He won the PAC 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year award three times in a row. As athletes, they are unlike traditional couples, and the Olympic champion shed light on their philosophy.

In an interview with NBC Bay Area, he said, “We are both really into health, wellness, fitness and that’s something we really bond over”. During the interview, NBC’s Jessica Aguirre asked him if it was love at first sight. To that, the swimming ace gave a beautiful reply, saying, “I had a good feeling”. He went back to the first few months of the relationship, which are always crucial in any budding romance.

He credited his wife, Bridget, for making the relationship work. She kept him “on his toes” with surprises that hooked his attention and made him fall in love even more. Therefore, when it came to choosing the venue for exchanging their marriage vows, Ryan Murphy chose a place that mattered to them both.

Excellent choice of wedding venue by Ryan Murphy

Ryan Murphy and Bridget Kontinen said “I do” to each other at the Everline Resort and Spa Center. As a rower and swimmer, both have a close affinity to water, and the beautiful vistas near Lake Tahoe formed the perfect background for their special day. Aside from the beauty of the place, Murphy chose the area because his wife had tons of memories from there. He said, “I think it’s honestly the most beautiful place I’ve been in the world, so it was a dream to get married there”.

Read More: Watch: 14 Days After Marrying His College Love, Ryan Murphy Hits the Pool to Train for Paris Olympics

Finally, for him to get married in a valley bearing Olympic Valley in the address brought everything together. It was the perfect start to the new swimming season, which would culminate in the 2024 Paris Olympics. With this new source of motivation, Ryan Murphy is girded for his fifth Olympic gold medal.

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