MURPHY Ryan

General
BATTLE WITH MIGRAINES
He has struggled with migraines throughout his life, often when he feels nervous or under pressure. "I think the most embarrassing migraine story I have was leaving for the 2012 Olympic Trials. I was super nervous for my first trials. On the plane was the entire Auburn [University] swim team, and in swimming culture, these college guys are like gods. So I was looking around swim-nerding out and got a migraine. The first thing that happens is that I get really hot, so I was asking the flight attendant for water, but it didn't work. I started massaging my temples, and ultimately ended up having to run down the aisle because I felt like I was going to throw up. There was someone in the bathroom, and I puked all over the first-class cabin. I think a little bit got onto the Auburn head coach's shoe, just to add to the embarrassment. I think that moment really did teach me that I've got to figure out how to help manage these symptoms that I'm getting as a result of migraines." (eu.usatoday.com, 01 Mar 2021)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has worked with the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund, which supports families facing childhood cancer in Florida, New York and New Jersey in the United States of America. The charity was founded by American football coach Tom Coughlin following the death of one of his Boston College players, Jay McGillis, from leukaemia. "I had met Tom Coughlin a couple of times following the 2016 Olympics at [Jacksonville] Jaguars games. He had mentioned that his foundation would like to collaborate. The first event I did was in September 2018, for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, when we visited the Wolfson Children's Hospital. He brought signed footballs for each child, I brought Speedo beanies, and took pictures with my Olympic medals. You could see the powerful impact he had on each child, and it made me realise the importance of giving back." He also serves as an ambassador the Goldfish Swim School, an organisation that teaches children to swim and promotes water safety throughout the United States of America. (goldfishswimschool.com, 01 Mar 2021; swimmingworldmagazine.com, 12 Feb 2020; eu.usatoday.com, 08 Apr 2021; swimswam.com, 12 May 2020)

FUTURE PLANS
After retiring from competitive sport he plans to pursue a career in stock trading. In April 2021 he shared trading advice as part of Financial Literacy Month. (sport.yahoo.com, 27 Apr 2021)