MISSY FRANKLIN

MISSY FRANKLIN

Two-Time Olympian. Six-Time Olympic Medalist.

Now retired, Missy discusses her career, her love of swimming and her future plans

STARTING BLOCK MAGAZINE: How did you begin swimming? Missy Franklin: I began swimming because my mother never learned how to, and still hold a sense of fear towards water today. She did not want to pass that fear onto me and therefore got me in swim classes as early as six months old. Learning to swim is so incredibly important for safety, and I’m so proud that my mom faced her fear in order that I wouldn’t have the same one!

SBM: Who inspired you the most throughout your swimming career? MF: Natalie Coughlin was my greatest swimming role model growing up. She was so versatile, such a leader on the team, and had such beautiful strokes. I had countless teammates and coaches that inspired me every single day. It is so crucial to surround yourself with people who are constantly supporting you and pushing you to be your best.

SBM: What made swimming a passion of yours? MF: I’ve just always loved it. Swimming brings me so much joy, and always has. I truly felt like I was born to swim. Even on the tough days, the days when I was beyond exhausted and sore, I still found myself with a massive smile on my face in the pool.

SBM: Tell me about your proudest moment as an athlete. MF: My proudest moment as an athlete was winning my first gold medal. So many young athletes dream of this their entire lives, and to accomplish my greatest goal at just 17 was something I could have never imagined. The feeling was truly indescribable.

SBM: Tell me about a time when swimming challenged you and a lesson you learned from it. MF: Swimming challenged me every single day, and it is one of the aspects that I love so much about the sport. It challenged me the most when I failed to accomplish any of my goals at my second Olympics. It was the most

disappointing and heart breaking experience of my life, and I knew my challenge was to keep my positive attitude, to continue being the best teammate I could be, and to show the best sportsmanship I could, despite my own heart ache and disappointment.

SBM: Do you have a word or mantra that you said to yourself when you were competing? MF: Relentless and smile :)

SBM: Do you have any nutritional or fitness recommendations for other swimmers? Any favorite foods or workouts? MF: My greatest piece of fitness advice is RECOVERY. I wish I would have learned and understood the importance of recovery sooner. With how much work we put in, it is so crucial we give ourselves, physically and mentally, a break to recover and repair before we get back to another hard week of training. Nutritionally, just eat intuitively. Make sure you’re fueling before and after practice and eating foods that are going to help your body perform at it’s best.

SBM: What made you ultimately decide to retire? MF: I underwent bilateral shoulder surgery in 2017, and unfortunately remained in an excruciating amount of pain. In order to continue training, I would have needed another bilateral surgery and I did not feel as though I could have the surgery and still have the successful Olympics in 2020 that I would hope for.

SBM: Where do you see your future going now that the competitive side of swimming is over? MF: The possibilities are endless :)

SBM: What advice do you have for someone just starting their swimming career? MF: Enjoy every moment! You will learn so much from this sport, and you won’t even realize how much until potentially years down to road. Swimming will bring you so much joy, friendship, challenge, and inspiration, and take in as much as you can.

BIOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS

(COURTESY OF TEAMUSA.ORG)

Name: Missy Franklin Sport: Swimming Event(s): 200m backstroke, 200m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle Height: 6-2 Weight: 170 DOB: 5/10/1995 Birthplace: Pasadena, Calif. Hometown: Centennial, Colo. High School: Regis Jesuit High School (Aurora, Colo.) ‘13 College: University of California, Berkeley

Olympic Experience

• Two-time Olympian (2012, 2016); Six-time Olympic medalist (5 golds, 1 bronze)

• Rio 2016 Olympic Games, gold (4x200m free); 13th (200m free); 14th (200m back)

• London 2012 Olympic Games, gold (100m back, 200m back, 4x200m free, 4x100m medley); bronze (4x100m free); 4th (200m free); 5th (100m free)

World Championship Experience

• Most recent: 2015 – gold (4x200m free, 4x100m mixed free); silver (200m back); bronze (200m free, 4x100m free); 4th (4x100m medley); 5th (100m back); 7th (100m free)

• Years of participation: Long Course – 2011, 2013, 2015; Short Course – 2010

• Medals: 17 (11 golds, 3 silvers, 3 bronzes)

• Gold – 2011 (200m back, 4x100m medley, 4x200m free); 2013 (100m back, 200m back, 200m free, 4x100m free, 4x200m free, 4x100m medley); 2015 (4x200m free, 4x100m mixed free)

• Silver – 2010 (200m back); 2011 (4x100m free); 2015 (200m back)

• Bronze – 2011 (50m back); 2015 (200m free, 4x100m free)