Swimmer Wins Bronze, Wife Has a Surprise Announcement

Ryan Murphy learns 'it's a girl' after medal ceremony
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 30, 2024 8:28 AM CDT
Swimmer Wins Bronze, Learns 'It's a Girl'
Ryan Murphy of the United States competes during a heat in the men's 100-meter backstroke at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France.   (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

It's a girl. That's the surprise message that American swimmer Ryan Murphy got from the pool deck as he looked up at his wife, Bridget Konttinen, in the stands on Monday night at the Paris Olympics. Murphy won a bronze on Monday in the 100-meter backstroke, reports the AP. As the medal ceremony wound down, he saw Konttinen holding up a sign to let him know their first child, due in January, will be a girl. "I was walking back around and Bridget was holding up a sign and it said—'Ryan, it's a girl,'" he said. "That was the first time I heard the gender." "We both—we honestly both thought it was going to be a boy," he said. "And everyone—like everyone—we were talking to, they thought it was going to be a boy."

A big fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Murphy pointed out that quarterback Trevor Lawrence and his wife also have a daughter on the way. "I hope our daughters can be friends," he said. Murphy won three gold medals in Rio in 2016, and a gold, a silver, and a bronze in Tokyo in 2021. He won his first medal in Paris after finishing behind winner Thomas Ceccon of Italy and Xu Jiayu of China. As soon a Murphy started talking about the gender news, none of the questions returned to his race. It was all about the baby. "I think that just kind of like lit me up." he said. "And really brought this night to a whole other level."

(More 2024 Paris Olympics stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X