Gender Reveal at Olympics: US Swimmer Ryan Murphy Wins Bronze and Wife Celebrated Victory by Revealing Baby’s Gender
During the 100-meter backstroke, the professional swimmer’s wife Bridget Konttinen hoisted a sign that read, “Ryan, it’s a girl!”
On Monday, July 29, Ryan Murphy had more than just his 2024 Olympic bronze medal to celebrate.
Standing in the grandstand, Murphy’s wife Bridget Konttinen held up a sign that read, “Ryan it’s a girl!” after her husband, Ryan, 29, earned his bronze medal for coming third in the 100-meter backstroke competition.
He was then seen in the stands giving Konttinen an embrace as the soon-to-be parents kissed.
This is what Murphy recalled: “I was walking back around and Bridget was holding up a sign and it said— ‘Ryan, it’s a girl,'” Murphy told the Associated Press. “That was the first time I heard the gender.”
“Right from the start, we were both hoping it would be a boy,” he continued. No one we spoke to suspected anything other than a boy’s gender.
Since Trevor Lawrence, quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and his wife Marissa are also expecting a girl, Murphy has high expectations for his daughter’s future best friend.
“I really hope our daughters can become friends,” he admitted.
The official Instagram accounts of Team USA and USA Swimming shared a touching photo of Konttinen carrying the sign, with the support of her loved ones.
Swimming teammate and fellow gold winner Michael Phelps congratulated Murphy in the comments section, writing, “Congrats Murph!!”
With this bronze medal, Murphy became one of the most decorated Olympic athletes in history, adding to his total of seven.
He completed the race in 52.39 seconds. Italian swimmer Thomas Ceccon won the gold medal with a time of 52 seconds flat, while Chinese swimmer Jiayu Xu took second place with a time of 52.32.
In February, Murphy gave credit for his performance in training for the Paris Summer Games to Konttinen, his college girlfriend whom he wed in September 2023.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Murphy said, “I think she’s someone who definitely gets me just motivated about life.” “She’s super optimistic, and I think that’s just been really helpful for me in terms of my approach to the sport.”
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