Bolles graduate Ryan Murphy won the Olympic Gold Medal in the 100-meter backstroke Monday, winning in an Olympic record-setting 51.97.
Murphy came from behind to win the medal, garnering the gold and ascending to the podium, where he was joined by silver medalist Xu Jiayu of China and USA teammate David Plummer, who captured the bronze. The 21-year-old University of California-Berkeley student was scheduled to compete in the 200 back and on Team USA’s 4x100 medley relay squad later this week.
Murphy’s win followed the Gold Medal-winning performance of Caeleb Dressel, who along with Murphy was a member of the Bolles Sharks club. Dressel captured the gold in the 4x100 free relay.
Murphy graduated from the Bolles School in 2013 after participating in his first Olympic Trials during 2012. A six-time NCAA champion, Murphy is also a 15-time Florida High School Class 1A State Champion who set the national high school record in the 100 back in November 2012. In 2013, he was named National High School Swimmer of the Year.
