Ryan Bullock grew up swimming for the Fort Smith Tideriders under his coach and father Ian Bullock. He won his first state titles at age 12 in the 200 and 500 yard freestyle. He pursued distance swimming where he was a zone, regional, and jr. national qualifier, posting top 16 times during his age group swimming. 

Ryan then attended Missouri State University on a swimming scholarship. He was an Academic All American all four years and garnered All Conference Honors. He went on to pursue and obtained his doctorate in Audiology at Missouri State in 2012.  He continued swimming during these years and made his way out west to complete an internship in Washington State before landing in Southern California. 

Ryan continues to ocean race and has won the Dwight Crum 2.4 mile Pier to Pier swim seven times and set a world record in the 11 mile Portland Bridge Swim. Ryan started and owns his own audiology practice in San Pedro California and also works as an ocean lifeguard for the county of Los Angeles. Ryan and his wife Madeline met at an ocean swim group and currently reside in Redondo Beach, expecting their first child in January of 2025.