DUBLIN, Ireland – Two-time Olympian and former Nittany Lion Shane Ryan added a third event as part of his Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 experience as announced by the Olympic Federation of Ireland. Ryan, who qualified for the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly events, will also compete as a member of Ireland's 800 freestyle relay.
Ryan advanced to the semifinals in the 100 backstroke at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and won a gold medal at the 2017 Summer Universidad competition in the 50 backstroke. He picked up three bronze medal finishes in that same event in the 2018 World Championships and 2019 and 2018 European Championships.
A three-time Big Ten individual champion with gold medals for the 100 backstroke (2014, 2015) and 100 freestyle (2014), Ryan has his name listed with 16 Irish national records, including eight individual (three long course, five short course) and six short-course marks (two long course, four short course). He still owns three of Penn State's individual records (50 free, 100 free, 100 back) and is a member of both the program's best 400 freestyle and 400 medley relay teams.
Ryan swam with the Toronto Titans for his second year in the International Swimming League (ISL), setting three of his Irish records during 2020.
The 2014 Swimmer of the Big Ten Championships for his five podium finishes in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 back, and as a member of the 200 free and 400 free relay teams, Ryan also had two NCAA Championship podium finishes, winning silver in the 100 back (2014) and bronze a year later in the same event.
Ryan's first event in the Olympic Games will be the 100 backstroke with heats set for Sunday, July 25. The 800m freestyle relay heats are scheduled for Tuesday, July 27 and the 100m butterfly heats are on Thursday, July 29.
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