“Swimming really is thought of as an individual sport. But there’s so many people that have a hand in your success. And you really need that,” emphasized Ryan Murphy, underscoring a deeper truth about his journey beyond the pool. For Murphy, swimming isn’t merely a sport but a profound journey that shaped his character, discipline, and unwavering competitive drive. Central to this narrative is Murphy’s siblings – Patrick and Shannon Murphy, each carving their own paths in competitive swimming, contributing achievements to the Murphy family legacy.

Recently earning his spot on his third Olympic team, Murphy has already medaled six times across two Summer Games—an incredible feat that has garnered praise from legends like Michael Phelps. As Murphy gears up for Paris, his siblings Patrick and Shannon at home ignited his love for swimming and molded his dedication to the sport. Let’s delve deeper into the Murphy siblings who are characterized by dedication, support, and a shared passion for swimming excellence.

All about Ryan Murphy’s siblings

Ryan Murphy hails from a family of swimmers. As the youngest of three children, he watched his oldest sister, already proficient in swimming, immediately take to the water. The next summer, his older brother joined in as well. Murphy remembers those days vividly, wearing his life vest and eagerly waiting for his turn to swim alongside his siblings. “I was just the young kid running around with my life vest on, chomping at the bit so I could play with my older siblings,” Murphy shared with reporter Alex Maragos. Both accomplished competitive swimmers themselves, Shannon and Patrick served as inspirations for Ryan to pursue swimming.

Patrick, who swam for Notre Dame until 2015, credits much of his success to training alongside his younger brother. He graduated from Warren Central High School before studying journalism at the University of Florida. Additionally, his sister Shannon earned 3 letters from the women’s swim team during her time at the University of Illinois at Chicago from 2019-22. Her personal best was set during the 50m freestyle event at 27.05s. During her high school, she was also recognized as an All-Northern California swimmer. Shannon received the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association All-American designation in 2021. Ryan Murphy definitely gets his love for swimming from his siblings. 

The olympian was inspired by his siblings

All three siblings were enrolled in swimming lessons in 1993 by their mother, Katy Murphy, at the local park district. In fact, Ryan’s first acquaintance with water was when he was just 10 months old in a mommy-and-me program. He was then enrolled more seriously alongside his siblings at the age of 4. Katy hoped it would instill in her three children perseverance and dedication. Shannon and Patrick did their own bit in inspiring their younger brother. The friendly camaraderie between them was instrumental to Ryan’s desire to improve himself. As siblings, they had a unique rivalry that pushed each of them to outdo the other. “I was just the young kid running around with my life vest on, chomping at the bit so I could play with my older siblings,” Murphy said later.

As a result, all three siblings have had quite successful swimming careers. On Monday night, Ryan Murphy solidified his spot in the 2024 Games by clinching victory in the men’s 100-meter backstroke final at the Olympic Trials. As he gears up for Paris, Murphy acknowledges a significant evolution in his approach to swimming. “I know exactly what I’m doing on a daily basis and why I’m good,” Murphy affirmed. In preparation for the upcoming Games, Murphy has been diligently working to refine his skills, despite feeling the physical toll of training. Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic about his prospects in Paris. Make sure to tune in to watch Murphy’s debut race in Paris, airing on July 28th on NBC Sports.