Milestones, People

Berkeley senior's Olympic gold still 'hasn't set in'

By Public Affairs

Ryan Murphy
Ryan Murphy (USA Today/UC Berkeley photo)
Ryan Murphy

Ryan Murphy (USA Today/UC Berkeley photo)

While most Haas School of Business undergrads return to class this week with successful internships under their belts, senior Ryan Murphy is returning with three gold medals from the Rio Olympics.

“It’s kind of weird when you get to that point when you’ve achieved your lifelong dream. It still really hasn’t set in,” said the swimmer, one of 41 UC Berkeley athletes to compete at the Rio Olympics this summer, in an interview with Berkeley-Haas news editor Kim Girard.

Calling himself “a normal kid,” Murphy, 21, describes the “super cool” moment when actor Matthew McConaughey cheered him on after his victory in the 200-meter backstroke, He also recalls his parents’ thrilled reaction to his Olympic success, and explains why he found the Olympic Trials “a much more pressure-packed meet” than the actual Games themselves.

Read the entire interview at the Berkeley-Haas website.