Murphy Eyes Return to Top of the Podium in Paris

Ryan Murphy of the United States reacts during the Men's 100m backstroke medal ceremony on Day Three of the 2024 US Olympic Team Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium on June 17, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Getty Images/AFP)
Ryan Murphy of the United States reacts during the Men's 100m backstroke medal ceremony on Day Three of the 2024 US Olympic Team Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium on June 17, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Murphy Eyes Return to Top of the Podium in Paris

Ryan Murphy of the United States reacts during the Men's 100m backstroke medal ceremony on Day Three of the 2024 US Olympic Team Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium on June 17, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Getty Images/AFP)
Ryan Murphy of the United States reacts during the Men's 100m backstroke medal ceremony on Day Three of the 2024 US Olympic Team Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium on June 17, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Getty Images/AFP)

Ryan Murphy said his desire to regain his Olympic 100m backstroke title burns hotter than ever after he punched his ticket to the Paris Games on Monday.

The 28-year-old set an Olympic record when he took gold at Rio 2016 but could do no better than bronze in the event in Tokyo in 2021.

"There's definitely no shortage of motivation from my end," Murphy told reporters after his victory at the US Olympic trials in Indianapolis.

"I feel like I've always got a fire under my butt.

"I'm a really motivated person and definitely coming off the last Olympics, I want to win every time I touch the water, whether that's a Monday morning practice or an Olympic finals.

"I want to go to the Olympics and I want to win."

The four-time Olympic gold medalist finished third in the 100m in Tokyo behind to two Russian athletes and made headlines when he said after the race that doping was still a problem in the sport.

He later clarified that he was not accusing the swimmers who beat him of any wrongdoing.

Russian athletes have been unable to compete under their own flag at the Olympics since Rio 2016 after the country was sanctioned for what the International Olympic Committee said was the systematic doping of athletes.

Russia will not be allowed to field athletes in Paris due to its ongoing invasion of Ukraine although individual athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus can compete as neutrals if they meet a strict set of criteria.

The issue of doping raised its head again this year when the World Anti-Doping Agency confirmed reports that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned drug before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but it accepted the country's findings that this was due to substance contamination.

WADA defended its handling of the case but it sparked outrage among athletes and other national doping federations.

Murphy said he has communicated his feeling about the situation to anti-doping authorities.

"I'm definitely behind the scenes expressing my thoughts and learning everything I can about what's going on," he said.

"I'm going to continue to do that."



Arsenal Confirms Kai Havertz Needs Hamstring Surgery, Will Miss Rest of Season

FILED - 25 January 2025, United Kingdom, Wolverhampton: Arsenal's Kai Havertz reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton and Arsenal at Molineux Stadium. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa
FILED - 25 January 2025, United Kingdom, Wolverhampton: Arsenal's Kai Havertz reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton and Arsenal at Molineux Stadium. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa
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Arsenal Confirms Kai Havertz Needs Hamstring Surgery, Will Miss Rest of Season

FILED - 25 January 2025, United Kingdom, Wolverhampton: Arsenal's Kai Havertz reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton and Arsenal at Molineux Stadium. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa
FILED - 25 January 2025, United Kingdom, Wolverhampton: Arsenal's Kai Havertz reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton and Arsenal at Molineux Stadium. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa

Arsenal's Premier League title challenge has been dealt a blow after forward Kai Havertz was ruled out for the rest of the season Thursday with a hamstring injury.
The Germany international sustained the injury during a training camp in Dubai this week, The Associated Press reported.
Arsenal said Havertz will undergo surgery in the coming days.
“Soon after surgery, Kai will begin his recovery and rehabilitation program, which is expected to extend into pre-season preparations for next season,” the club said in a statement. “Everyone at the club is fully focused on supporting Kai to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible.”
The loss of Havertz, who scored nine goals in 21 Premier League appearances this season, leaves manager Mikel Arteta short of attacking options with Gabriel Jesus out for the season after ACL surgery.
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are also sidelined with hamstring injuries.
The injuries could create an opportunity for Raheem Sterling to get more minutes.
Arteta wanted to sign a forward during the January transfer window, with Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins a reported target.
“We had a clear intention to explore the opportunities to improve our squad with players that can impact it,” Arteta said after the window closed. "And we haven’t achieved that so we are disappointed in that sense.
“We’re going to have to be very flexible with the front line. It’s not a gamble, it’s reality, and we have to face the reality."
Arsenal is second in the Premier League, seven points behind leader Liverpool.
The London club has not won the title since 2004 and finished runner-up in the last two seasons.