USA Swimming Trials Day 6 recap: Ryan Murphy, a surprise proposal and increased viewership
Here are the highlights of Day 6 of the USA Swimming Olympic Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium:
Top story
Ryan Murphy won the 200-meter backstroke in 1:54.33. The 28-year-old became the first swimmer to win 100 and 200 backstrokes at three successive Olympic Trials.
Magical moment
After Lilly King rallied to finish second in the 200 breaststroke, she got a surprise proposal. James Wells, 32, of Phippsburg, Maine, became engaged to her on the pool deck as an NBC microphone picked up his voice. King, 27, showed the crowd her finger with a ring on it. Wells is a former Indiana University backstroker.
After Lilly King qualified for her second race for the Paris Olympics, her fiancé gave her a ring of her own. 💍 #SwimTrials24pic.twitter.com/UgnfeyJYgO
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 21, 2024
Buzzworthy
In his seventh Olympic Trials, 39-year-old Matt Grevers tied for 47th in heats of the 50 freestyle in 22.82. He came out of retirement for the chance to swim in an NFL stadium and reunite with old friends.
“It’s cool to know at 39 that my body definitely still has it,” said Grevers, winner of six Olympic medals. “It’s just what are you willing to put into it. So it was really fun to make the (trials), really fun just to know I get to swim here, hang out with a lot of friends, walking on the pool deck, saying hi to all the coaches and older athletes. It felt like a homecoming.”
Stat of the day
The trials are averaging 3.2 million primetime viewers across NBC and Peacock, up 20% compared to the 2021 trials at Omaha, Neb. (Data is from Saturday through Tuesday.)
Quote of the day
“Seeing the Olympic rings next to my name, that’s really crazy,” Alex Shackell, after finishing second in 200 butterfly, assuring she would be the first swimmer out of Carmel High School’s girls program to become an Olympian.
What’s up next
Friday night finals feature Notre Dame’s Chris Guiliano against Caeleb Dressel and Jack Alexy in the 50 freestyle, Regan Smith in the 200 backstroke and Zionsville’s surprising Will Modglin in the 200 individual medley. Heats include the 800 freestyle, in which Carmel’s 16-year-old Kayla Han won a world junior title last September
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: USA Swimming Olympic Trials Day 6: Ryan Murphy, a surprise proposal, increased viewership
