(RxWiki News) Four years ago, Missy Franklin tried out for the U.S. Olympic team at the age of 13. She didn’t make the team in 2008 but even qualifying for the Olympic trials at 13 was an impressive feat.
For the 2012 London Games, Missy Franklin will be representing the U.S. in seven events at the age of 17. This will likely be the first of several Olympic Games that Franklin will compete in over the course of her promising swimming career.
"Watch Missy swim at the London Games starting July 28th."
Franklin said, “I definitely knew what I wanted, and for the past four years I have worked so hard. I didn’t know if it was going to be possible but the fact that it’s here and happening, it doesn’t feel real, it’s such a dream.”
At six-feet, one-inches tall and with 12 years of competitive swimming under her belt, Franklin is highly favored in the rankings. Her parents and coach joke that her size 13 feet are like built in fins that help propel her through the water.
Franklin will swim in the 100- and 200-meter freestyle, 100- and 200-meter backstroke and compete on three relay teams in London.
If she wins gold in all of her events she will become the first female swimmer to win seven gold medals in a single Olympics.
Germany’s Kristin Otto set the record for six gold medals at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.
Franklin’s swimming idol, Natalie Coughlin, took six mixed medals away from the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Coughlin will also be going to London to race as the Olympic team co-captain.
The child of Canadian citizens, Franklin chose to swim for America despite dual citizenship. Canadian trials may have been a little easier but Franklin was determined to represent the U.S.
Franklin was raised in Colorado and trained by head coach, Todd Schmitz, of the Colorado Stars. She will return to Aurora, Colorado to finish her senior year of high school after the 2012 Olympic Games.
