Ryan Murphy soaks in life changes while keeping his feel for the water

Nine-time Olympic medalist Ryan Murphy has a lot on his plate these days. That still includes swimming, just in a different capacity than he’s used to.

Murphy, 29, has taken a break from competition since the Paris Games, where he earned a medal of every color for a second consecutive Olympics.

He still plans to bid for a fourth Olympic team in 2028, and could return to racing as early as 2026.

“There’s always a trade-off,” said Murphy, who swam at every major international meet from 2014 through 2024. “These competitions are awesome, and they’re a lot of fun. But this is a time where I really want to be present in my personal life.”

Murphy and wife Bridget welcomed their first child, daughter…