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Missy Franklin wraps up an incredible Olympics
Missy Franklin has heard “The Star Spangled Banner” so many times here she’ll be singing it in the shower and not know it. It’ll ring in her ears. She’ll think it’s her cell’s ring tone.
Saturday night, the 17-year-old from Centennial capped off an Olympics a teen-age girl can only dream about. Final race. Fourth Olympic gold medal. Fifth overall. Second world record. Fifth American record. Franklin swam the leadoff leg, and her specialty, the backstroke, in Team USA’s 4X100 medley relay.
This one was special beyond sharing it with her beloved teammates, the ones she makes laugh with her silly dances in the ready room and promises of Big Macs when it’s all over.
It’s special because it puts Franklin in the Olympic record book.
The four gold medals tie Franklin with Amy Van Dyken, a fellow swimmer and Coloradoan, for the most gold medals in one Olympiad by an American woman. East Germany’s Kristin Otto, won won six swimming golds in 1988, is the only female athlete who has won more.
“I exceeded expectations,” Franklin said. “I could never have imagined walking into this meet and walking away how I have. I have had so much fun here. I wasn’t really expecting golds or world records. I was expecting to get close to my team.”
This final relay wasn’t so much a race as it was a coronation. Four Americans, all with individual gold medals, did an encore together to whitewash the best in the world. Powered by Dana Vollmer’s dominating butterfly in the third leg, the 4x100 medley relay team won the gold record in a world-record 3:52.05.
On the pool deck the four women hugged as if they’d swum an ocean and wouldn’t see each other for a very long time.
“I’m going to miss this so much,” Franklin said. “I know I am. I’m so excited that I’ll get to spend a little time with my family and explore London a little bit but I’m sad. I’m so sad it’s all over. I’ve learned so much from this experience and can’t wait to kind of take that home and learn and get better off of that experience.”
Where this goes from here may go beyond Franklin’s expectations. Phelps is retiring, leaving Franklin as the face of not only American women’s swimming but U.S. swimming. She’ll return for her senior year at Regis Jesuit High and pick a college sometime soon while fending off endorsers and agents promising millions to the new it girl. Continued...
Saturday night, the 17-year-old from Centennial capped off an Olympics a teen-age girl can only dream about. Final race. Fourth Olympic gold medal. Fifth overall. Second world record. Fifth American record. Franklin swam the leadoff leg, and her specialty, the backstroke, in Team USA’s 4X100 medley relay.
This one was special beyond sharing it with her beloved teammates, the ones she makes laugh with her silly dances in the ready room and promises of Big Macs when it’s all over.
It’s special because it puts Franklin in the Olympic record book.
The four gold medals tie Franklin with Amy Van Dyken, a fellow swimmer and Coloradoan, for the most gold medals in one Olympiad by an American woman. East Germany’s Kristin Otto, won won six swimming golds in 1988, is the only female athlete who has won more.
“I exceeded expectations,” Franklin said. “I could never have imagined walking into this meet and walking away how I have. I have had so much fun here. I wasn’t really expecting golds or world records. I was expecting to get close to my team.”
This final relay wasn’t so much a race as it was a coronation. Four Americans, all with individual gold medals, did an encore together to whitewash the best in the world. Powered by Dana Vollmer’s dominating butterfly in the third leg, the 4x100 medley relay team won the gold record in a world-record 3:52.05.
On the pool deck the four women hugged as if they’d swum an ocean and wouldn’t see each other for a very long time.
“I’m going to miss this so much,” Franklin said. “I know I am. I’m so excited that I’ll get to spend a little time with my family and explore London a little bit but I’m sad. I’m so sad it’s all over. I’ve learned so much from this experience and can’t wait to kind of take that home and learn and get better off of that experience.”
Where this goes from here may go beyond Franklin’s expectations. Phelps is retiring, leaving Franklin as the face of not only American women’s swimming but U.S. swimming. She’ll return for her senior year at Regis Jesuit High and pick a college sometime soon while fending off endorsers and agents promising millions to the new it girl. Continued...
In the meantime, she’ll look to find ways to improve on a Road to Rio and the 2016 Olympics. Let’s see. Where can she look? It’s difficult. She even nailed the “Call Me Maybe” video.
OK, she didn’t medal in the two freestyle events but no American woman in history ever swam seven events in one Olympics.
“Michael was saying to me before doing this many events it gets better with experience,” she said. “You have to keep doing it over and over again. I think it’s going to be awesome to go into the next few seasons and having some awesome doubles and triples to get me back in that mode and keep getting better at having those really fast turnarounds.”
Franklin has only been in the public eye about a year but her smile emerged unchanged, her character even more appealing. To Franklin, everything in London was awesome, from the ready room to the Olympic Village dessert tray.
As her career moves ahead, she will be less in awe. That may help in the pool, too.
“I think mentally there are a few races I can be a little more prepared to swim,” she said. “It can be a little bit intimidating when you go out there and there’s just this absolutely incredible field so there are places where I know I can be better.”
She credited her coach, Todd Schmitz, for getting her ready. Schmitz indicated other events might be on her schedule, such as the 200 individual medley.
“That’s the best thing about swimming,” Schmitz said. “I don’t think anybody when they get done with a race, whether it’s a world record or not, say, ‘No, I’m never going to be that fast. I’m never going to swim better than today.’”
After the news conference ended here, and her Olympic duties were officially over, Missy got together with her parents for their first unlimited time together during these Games. Their tears long since dried, they were going to a party at the Team USA House.
On Sunday they planned on moving Missy out of the Village and into their rented house, which they’ll use as a base as they explore London over the next week. Continued...
OK, she didn’t medal in the two freestyle events but no American woman in history ever swam seven events in one Olympics.
“Michael was saying to me before doing this many events it gets better with experience,” she said. “You have to keep doing it over and over again. I think it’s going to be awesome to go into the next few seasons and having some awesome doubles and triples to get me back in that mode and keep getting better at having those really fast turnarounds.”
Franklin has only been in the public eye about a year but her smile emerged unchanged, her character even more appealing. To Franklin, everything in London was awesome, from the ready room to the Olympic Village dessert tray.
As her career moves ahead, she will be less in awe. That may help in the pool, too.
“I think mentally there are a few races I can be a little more prepared to swim,” she said. “It can be a little bit intimidating when you go out there and there’s just this absolutely incredible field so there are places where I know I can be better.”
She credited her coach, Todd Schmitz, for getting her ready. Schmitz indicated other events might be on her schedule, such as the 200 individual medley.
“That’s the best thing about swimming,” Schmitz said. “I don’t think anybody when they get done with a race, whether it’s a world record or not, say, ‘No, I’m never going to be that fast. I’m never going to swim better than today.’”
After the news conference ended here, and her Olympic duties were officially over, Missy got together with her parents for their first unlimited time together during these Games. Their tears long since dried, they were going to a party at the Team USA House.
On Sunday they planned on moving Missy out of the Village and into their rented house, which they’ll use as a base as they explore London over the next week. Continued...
Missy walked into the cool London night late Saturday a changed girl in perception only. She’s still the same Missy Franklin, the one who’ll go to Regis football games in white overalls, do impromptu dances and make everyone around her laugh and smile. But everyone in London who sees her will see her as something else.
Missy Franklin is the new face of American swimming.
John Henderson: 303-954-1299, jhenderson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/johnhendersondp
Missy Franklin is the new face of American swimming.
John Henderson: 303-954-1299, jhenderson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/johnhendersondp
Missy Franklin has heard “The Star Spangled Banner” so many times here she’ll be singing it in the shower and not know it. It’ll ring in her ears. She’ll think it’s her cell’s ring tone.
Saturday night, the 17-year-old from Centennial capped off an Olympics a teen-age girl can only dream about. Final race. Fourth Olympic gold medal. Fifth overall. Second world record. Fifth American record. Franklin swam the leadoff leg, and her specialty, the backstroke, in Team USA’s 4X100 medley relay.
This one was special beyond sharing it with her beloved teammates, the ones she makes laugh with her silly dances in the ready room and promises of Big Macs when it’s all over.
It’s special because it puts Franklin in the Olympic record book.
The four gold medals tie Franklin with Amy Van Dyken, a fellow swimmer and Coloradoan, for the most gold medals in one Olympiad by an American woman. East Germany’s Kristin Otto, won won six swimming golds in 1988, is the only female athlete who has won more.
“I exceeded expectations,” Franklin said. “I could never have imagined walking into this meet and walking away how I have. I have had so much fun here. I wasn’t really expecting golds or world records. I was expecting to get close to my team.”
This final relay wasn’t so much a race as it was a coronation. Four Americans, all with individual gold medals, did an encore together to whitewash the best in the world. Powered by Dana Vollmer’s dominating butterfly in the third leg, the 4x100 medley relay team won the gold record in a world-record 3:52.05.
On the pool deck the four women hugged as if they’d swum an ocean and wouldn’t see each other for a very long time.
“I’m going to miss this so much,” Franklin said. “I know I am. I’m so excited that I’ll get to spend a little time with my family and explore London a little bit but I’m sad. I’m so sad it’s all over. I’ve learned so much from this experience and can’t wait to kind of take that home and learn and get better off of that experience.”
Where this goes from here may go beyond Franklin’s expectations. Phelps is retiring, leaving Franklin as the face of not only American women’s swimming but U.S. swimming. She’ll return for her senior year at Regis Jesuit High and pick a college sometime soon while fending off endorsers and agents promising millions to the new it girl.
In the meantime, she’ll look to find ways to improve on a Road to Rio and the 2016 Olympics. Let’s see. Where can she look? It’s difficult. She even nailed the “Call Me Maybe” video.
OK, she didn’t medal in the two freestyle events but no American woman in history ever swam seven events in one Olympics.
“Michael was saying to me before doing this many events it gets better with experience,” she said. “You have to keep doing it over and over again. I think it’s going to be awesome to go into the next few seasons and having some awesome doubles and triples to get me back in that mode and keep getting better at having those really fast turnarounds.”
Franklin has only been in the public eye about a year but her smile emerged unchanged, her character even more appealing. To Franklin, everything in London was awesome, from the ready room to the Olympic Village dessert tray.
As her career moves ahead, she will be less in awe. That may help in the pool, too.
“I think mentally there are a few races I can be a little more prepared to swim,” she said. “It can be a little bit intimidating when you go out there and there’s just this absolutely incredible field so there are places where I know I can be better.”
She credited her coach, Todd Schmitz, for getting her ready. Schmitz indicated other events might be on her schedule, such as the 200 individual medley.
“That’s the best thing about swimming,” Schmitz said. “I don’t think anybody when they get done with a race, whether it’s a world record or not, say, ‘No, I’m never going to be that fast. I’m never going to swim better than today.’”
After the news conference ended here, and her Olympic duties were officially over, Missy got together with her parents for their first unlimited time together during these Games. Their tears long since dried, they were going to a party at the Team USA House.
On Sunday they planned on moving Missy out of the Village and into their rented house, which they’ll use as a base as they explore London over the next week.
Missy walked into the cool London night late Saturday a changed girl in perception only. She’s still the same Missy Franklin, the one who’ll go to Regis football games in white overalls, do impromptu dances and make everyone around her laugh and smile. But everyone in London who sees her will see her as something else.
Missy Franklin is the new face of American swimming.
John Henderson: 303-954-1299, jhenderson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/johnhendersondp
Saturday night, the 17-year-old from Centennial capped off an Olympics a teen-age girl can only dream about. Final race. Fourth Olympic gold medal. Fifth overall. Second world record. Fifth American record. Franklin swam the leadoff leg, and her specialty, the backstroke, in Team USA’s 4X100 medley relay.
This one was special beyond sharing it with her beloved teammates, the ones she makes laugh with her silly dances in the ready room and promises of Big Macs when it’s all over.
It’s special because it puts Franklin in the Olympic record book.
The four gold medals tie Franklin with Amy Van Dyken, a fellow swimmer and Coloradoan, for the most gold medals in one Olympiad by an American woman. East Germany’s Kristin Otto, won won six swimming golds in 1988, is the only female athlete who has won more.
“I exceeded expectations,” Franklin said. “I could never have imagined walking into this meet and walking away how I have. I have had so much fun here. I wasn’t really expecting golds or world records. I was expecting to get close to my team.”
This final relay wasn’t so much a race as it was a coronation. Four Americans, all with individual gold medals, did an encore together to whitewash the best in the world. Powered by Dana Vollmer’s dominating butterfly in the third leg, the 4x100 medley relay team won the gold record in a world-record 3:52.05.
On the pool deck the four women hugged as if they’d swum an ocean and wouldn’t see each other for a very long time.
“I’m going to miss this so much,” Franklin said. “I know I am. I’m so excited that I’ll get to spend a little time with my family and explore London a little bit but I’m sad. I’m so sad it’s all over. I’ve learned so much from this experience and can’t wait to kind of take that home and learn and get better off of that experience.”
Where this goes from here may go beyond Franklin’s expectations. Phelps is retiring, leaving Franklin as the face of not only American women’s swimming but U.S. swimming. She’ll return for her senior year at Regis Jesuit High and pick a college sometime soon while fending off endorsers and agents promising millions to the new it girl.
In the meantime, she’ll look to find ways to improve on a Road to Rio and the 2016 Olympics. Let’s see. Where can she look? It’s difficult. She even nailed the “Call Me Maybe” video.
OK, she didn’t medal in the two freestyle events but no American woman in history ever swam seven events in one Olympics.
“Michael was saying to me before doing this many events it gets better with experience,” she said. “You have to keep doing it over and over again. I think it’s going to be awesome to go into the next few seasons and having some awesome doubles and triples to get me back in that mode and keep getting better at having those really fast turnarounds.”
Franklin has only been in the public eye about a year but her smile emerged unchanged, her character even more appealing. To Franklin, everything in London was awesome, from the ready room to the Olympic Village dessert tray.
As her career moves ahead, she will be less in awe. That may help in the pool, too.
“I think mentally there are a few races I can be a little more prepared to swim,” she said. “It can be a little bit intimidating when you go out there and there’s just this absolutely incredible field so there are places where I know I can be better.”
She credited her coach, Todd Schmitz, for getting her ready. Schmitz indicated other events might be on her schedule, such as the 200 individual medley.
“That’s the best thing about swimming,” Schmitz said. “I don’t think anybody when they get done with a race, whether it’s a world record or not, say, ‘No, I’m never going to be that fast. I’m never going to swim better than today.’”
After the news conference ended here, and her Olympic duties were officially over, Missy got together with her parents for their first unlimited time together during these Games. Their tears long since dried, they were going to a party at the Team USA House.
On Sunday they planned on moving Missy out of the Village and into their rented house, which they’ll use as a base as they explore London over the next week.
Missy walked into the cool London night late Saturday a changed girl in perception only. She’s still the same Missy Franklin, the one who’ll go to Regis football games in white overalls, do impromptu dances and make everyone around her laugh and smile. But everyone in London who sees her will see her as something else.
Missy Franklin is the new face of American swimming.
John Henderson: 303-954-1299, jhenderson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/johnhendersondp
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