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Olympic swimmer Ryan Murphy and his wife, Bridget Konttinen Murphy, announced the arrival of their newborn daughter Eevi Lillian Murphy, born on Friday, January 24, 2025. The couple shared the happy news on Instagram, posting a series of five heartwarming photos of their newborn. Eevi weighed 9 pounds, 8 ounces, and measured 22 inches at birth. The name Eevi, of Finnish origin, means “life.”
The Instagram carousel included touching moments: Eevi peacefully sleeping while holding her parents’ hands, Bridget cradling Eevi in the hospital bed as she and Ryan shared a kiss, and close-ups of the newborn wrapped in a pink blanket. The couple added to the photo with the inscription, “Family of 3,” and shared the depth of their happiness.
Fellow Olympic swimmers extended their congratulations in the comments. Eevi , what a beauty, congrats you guys! !🩷,” while Olivia Smoliga added, “Congratulations 🥹👼🤍.” Katie McLaughlin commented, “Congratulations ! ! She’s so precious ,” and Meghan Dressel, wife of Olympian Caeleb Dressel, remarked, “Congratulations Mom and Dad🥹. She is so perfect 🤍✨.”
The couple’s path to becoming parents was poignantly represented at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Following Ryan’s bronze-medal finish in the men’s 100-meter backstroke on July 29, Bridget startled him with an electronic buzz, announcing the baby’s sex (we. Standing in the stands, she held a handwritten sign that read, “Ryan it’s a girl!”. This heartfelt moment marked the first time Ryan learned they were expecting a daughter.
Reflecting on the surprise, Ryan shared, “I was walking back around and Bridget was holding up a sign and it said ‘Ryan, it’s a girl.’”. He added, “That’s a great way to find out. That really lit me up and brought this night to a whole other level. Well, it’s pretty amazing to find out I’m going to be a girl dad.
Ryan and Bridget’s relationship began in 2016 during their time at the University of California, Berkeley, where Bridget was a member of the rowing team. The couple got engaged in May 2022 and tied the knot in September 2023. On that day they both now undergo the transition, as parents, to raising their baby daughter, Eevi Lillian.
Further down the line, as Ryan progresses through his glittering swimming career, the decision to have Eevi adds a layer of bliss and meaning to his life. Across the swimming community and the globe, fans and the swimming community join the Murphy family to celebrate the new beginning of this era.