University of Tennessee Athletics
NCAA SWIMMING QUALIFIER PROFILE: BARRY MURPHY
March 10, 2007 | Men's Swimming & Diving
March 10, 2007
In preparation for the NCAA Swimming Championships, Utsports.com will publish several profiles to spotlight nine Tennessee swimmers who qualified for the 2007 NCAA Championships in Minneapolis, Minn. Each day a new release will focus on a new swimmer to honor his accomplishments, to peer into the personality of a UT swimmer and to learn about his preparatory thoughts on the championships that will be held March 15-17. The swimmers will be highlighted in the following order: Brad Boswell, Andrew Engle, Octavio Alesi, Jim Dabney, Nolan Morrell, Barry Murphy, Jeff Sudbury, Michael Wolfe and Andrew Thirlwell. Today's profile focuses on sophomore Barry Murphy.
Barry Murphy is an impressive swimmer out of Ireland. This Dublin native specializes in the breaststroke and sprint-freestyle. Murphy did not always aspire to be a swimmer but stumbled upon swimming in a round-about way.
"My dad couldn't swim so he put my brothers and I into lessons there just merely for safety reasons," Murphy said. "I then progressed on from lessons. At the time, the swimming instructor was involved on a club team. She asked me to come down and swim a little bit with the club. This was at about age 10 when I started to swim competitively then and haven't looked back since."
Soccer and swimming divided his athletic interests. His parents interceded so that Murphy might realize his swimming potential.
"Both parents were actually role models," Murphy said. "My family has always given me a lot of support. Soccer was my main sport that I really loved. I can remember times when my mom would chase me down to go to soccer practice. I didn't want to go, I didn't like that. Soccer was just better because you were with all the lads. However, without their support, without their influence, I would not be where I am today. They kept me grounded, they kept me motivated when I wasn't motivated and they kept pushing me."
Eventually, Murphy began to surpass all of his friends in the pool. After his parents' intervention, Murphy himself began to realize his potential.
"I just started progressing in swimming at such a rapid rate that I just became much better at swimming than I was at any other sport," Murphy said. "I was 11 years old, tall and skinny, so it just came naturally. It was easiest for me to just move through the water. I really just enjoyed winning more and I enjoyed success."
Swimming in Ireland is much different than the United States. For one, Ireland has been known over the years for notorious Protestant and Catholic conflicts. Relatively peaceful recent-years have mustered the flames of the conflict. Murphy who grew up in the Catholic tradition said that the conflict never affected him.
"The conflict wasn't too bad growing up," Murphy said. "I suppose the only time I ever noticed it was when I went to meets in Northern Ireland. Usually the Irish High School Girls' Championships would be held there. If I would go up there, it was a really loyalist, very sectarian area. I suppose that was the only time you would hear stories about cars getting damaged and those sorts of incidents. I almost really never noticed it. I'm friends with a lot of Protestant swimmers, and it never gets brought up. It's not really an issue anymore. For people in the sport, we all get along really well. Maybe ten years ago it was an issue but not so much anymore today."
The political environment is not the only reason Ireland and the U.S. are worlds apart, but the popularity of certain sports differ between the two countries.
"I love it over here," Murphy said. "It's just a wholly different world here. Back home, you don't usually get the support for swimming like you do here.
Because swimming support lacks there, swimming quality increases from Ireland to the U.S.
"The main difference between here and Ireland is the program structure," Murphy said. "In Ireland, I wouldn't have many guys keep up with me in practice. But here, 20 guys are able to swim faster than you. So, we have a structure here that everyone is pushing everyone to improve. Everyday you're over here with record holders in the SEC and world champions from all over. You really have to step your game up to come over here and compete at this level. Although Ireland is progressing at the moment, it's not as competitive as I'd like it. So, I had to get out and come here to find out what I'm capable of doing."
Head coach John Trembley stumbled upon Barry Murphy in Berlin, Germany, as he sought out another Irish recruit.
"Andrew Bree who is still here training is a former swimmer for the University, and his Dad and JT (John Trembley) are really close friends," Murphy said. "JT went to him looking for a recruit. Andrew Bree was this kid who was the next big thing out of Ireland. So, JT started looking at him. I swam a meet in Berlin where JT just happened to see my results in that. Then he invited me out to come take a visit. I came here in April and thought this place was awesome.
"I really like JT's coaching style. Tennessee has a strong swimming tradition here. They have had great breaststrokers, which was my event, and they have had great sprint-freestylers, which was my event too. I was convinced this place was perfect for me because the Tennessee coaching staff could really help me become a great swimmer."
After a great season, indeed, Murphy looks a head to next week's NCAA Championships as he will race in seven events - the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 200 freestyle relay, 200 medley relay, 400 freestyle relay and 400 medley relay. He is confident about his trip to Minneapolis, Minn, because his preparation has been phenomenal.
"I think my preparation has been the best ever," Murphy said. "We came back from Christmas break and went straight in to the hard work. It was awesome. I've never prepared as well for a competition than this one. I'm already hitting better times in practice than I did at Princeton, and that Invitational was one of the best meets I've ever had. To gauge my preparation from that now I can see huge improvements."
Murphy made it evident that he wanted everyone to know that the University of Tennessee is serious about next week's competition.
"I just want everyone to know to expect great things from us next week because we are looking forward to it," Murphy said. "And we're excited about it because I think we have the opportunity to be awesome. I really hope people support us in that."
The 2007 NCAA Championships, again, are held March 15-17 in Minneapolis, Minn. The next profile will feature sophomore Jeff Sudbury.
Players Mentioned
