Ryan Murphy second in aggressive comeback at 2026 Pro Swim Series after two-year absence

Ryan Murphy marked his return to aggressive swimming with a second-place end in his signature 100m backstroke on the 2026 Pro Swim Series meet in Sacramento, USA, on Wednesday (20 May).

The two-time particular person gold medallist from the USA has not raced competitively since Paris 2024, the place he received bronze within the 100m again and gold and silver within the relays, taking his complete Olympic medal rely to 9.

In motion as soon as once more on the opening day of the 2026 Pro Swim Series, Murphy led within the opening 50, splitting 25.00 to Daniel Diehl’s 26.20. He fell again virtually half a second off Diehl’s tempo within the second half, nevertheless, ending the race in a time of 53.91 to his rival’s 53.74.

Canada’s Blake Tierney got here third in 54.59.

USA’s Torri Huske was one other multi-Olympic medallist in motion throughout the opener of the four-day meet, which takes place from 20 to 23 May.

The three-time Olympic champion, who’s competing at her first long-course meet because the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, began her seven-race marketing campaign by successful the ladies’s 200m particular person medley in a time of two:11:34.

Huske took the lead within the first 50m and completed virtually two seconds forward of the closest competitor, Katie Christopherson, who swam a private greatest of two:13.15.