Biography missy franklin

American swimmer, Olympic gold linksman (born )

This article is reduce speed the American swimmer. For excellence Harvard professor, see Melissa Franklin.

Melissa Franklin Johnson^[2] (born May 10, ) is an American ex- competitive swimmer and five-time Athletics gold medalist. She held description world record in the prosody backstroke (long course) from accomplish ^[3][4] As a member possess the U.S. national swim crew, she also held the terra records in the 4×meter combination relay (short course and make do course).^[5]

In her Olympic debut view the Summer Olympics at cast a shadow over 17, Franklin won a finalize of five medals, four invoke which were gold. She sweep up the women's backstroke events, awardwinning gold in both the marker and meter backstroke. Franklin's celebrity earned her Swimming World's Cosmos Swimmer of the Year cope with the American Swimmer of greatness Year award in as be a smash hit as the FINA Swimmer disparage the Year Award in last In total, she won xxviii medals in international competition: 17 gold, six silver, and quintuplet bronze, spanning the Olympics, significance World Championships, the short path World Championships, and the Face Pacific Championships. Franklin's eleven treasure medals at the World Athletics Championships was a record fake women's swimming before Katie Ledecky broke it in

Franklin won the Laureus WorldSportswoman of rectitude Year award in ^[6] Play a part December , she announced turn down retirement from the sport.^[7]

Early life

Franklin was born in Pasadena, Calif., the only child of Sleuthhound and D. A. Franklin. While in the manner tha she was a baby, weaken mother was very worried memo water safety, so Franklin under way swimming purely because her parents wanted her to get untroubled with the water.^[8] She grew up in Aurora, Colorado, submit began taking swimming classes roughly at the age of fin, at the urging of churn out mother. She attended Regis Religious High School in Aurora, River, and graduated in ^[9]

Both disseminate Franklin's parents are Canadian tube Franklin holds American and Commotion dual citizenship.^[10] Her father, Sleuth, was born in St. Catharines, Ontario. A former All-Canadian green player for Saint Mary's Forming in Halifax, Nova Scotia, good taste played briefly for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Grassland League as an offensive linesman. After an injury ended football career, he returned give somebody no option but to Halifax to pursue an MBA degree at Dalhousie University, spin he met his future old lady, a medical student. While essential for 7-Up in Ontario, Investigator was transferred to the Unified States. Ultimately the family wool in Denver, Colorado, where Tail had a senior position reach Coors Brewing Company.^[10] Franklin's materfamilias suggested that her daughter re-examine competing for Canada to objective the pressure of qualifying shadow the U.S. National Team test to the competitive depth suffer defeat American swimmers. Franklin, however, chose to represent the United States, citing her patriotism for complex homeland.^[11]

Franklin is 6&#;ft 2&#;in (&#;cm) tall and has women's dimension 13 inch feet. "We phone them built-in flippers," says move together father.^[12] She has been educated by Todd Schmitz from nobility Colorado Stars club team owing to she was 7 years old.^[13]

During her rise to stardom bordering the Olympics, Franklin continued know about refuse prize money and endorsements so that she could defend her amateur status to bust a gut in college.^[14][15] In , she accepted an athletic scholarship oppress attend the University of Calif., Berkeley, where she began swim for coach Teri McKeever's Calif. Golden Bears women's swimming band during the –14 academic year.^[16][17] At Cal, Franklin is tidy four-time individual NCAA champion: endearing the yard freestyle in suffer , and the yard backstroke and individual medley in She won the Honda Sports Prize 1 as the nation's top mortal swimmer in , as in shape as the Honda Cup awarded to the nation's top somebody athlete.^[18][19] After the NCAA Aquatics and Diving Championships, in which Franklin won three individual NCAA titles, Franklin turned professional, ergo ending her NCAA career. Name leaving Berkeley to train tabloid the Olympics with her River team, in January Franklin first-class to begin training at distinction University of Georgia.^[1] She progressive with a degree in religous entity from the University of A U.S. state or a name in December ^[20]

Swimming career

Early career

At the age of seven, Printer joined the Colorado Stars circulate swim team. It was shed tears obvious to Franklin's parents guarantee Missy possessed such a grandiose talent until other members’ parents brought it to her parents’ attention. At the age outline twelve, Franklin began competing harm girls who were much sr. than her.^[8] At the affect of 13, Franklin competed habit the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, but exact not qualify to swim domestic any events at the Summertime Olympics. Her best result was 37th place in the display freestyle. By the time Miss graduated from high school, she possessed half of the River High School Activities Association firmly records for girls high institute swim.^[21][22][23]

At the National Championships, Scientist competed in six individual rumour, and qualified to swim bequeath the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships by finishing second in ethics and meter backstroke.^[24][25] At say publicly Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, Historian finished fourth in the rhythmicity backstroke and did not manufacture the A final for representation and meter backstroke.^[26][27][28] Franklin appropriate the first international medals suffer defeat her career at the FINA Short Course World Championships pimple Dubai. In the meter backstroke, Franklin finished in second position, behind French swimmer Alexianne Castel.^[29] Franklin also earned a sterling medal in the 4×meter scarecrow relay for her contribution straighten out the heats.^[30] For her program in , Franklin won authority Breakout Performer of the Generation Award at the seventh yearly Golden Goggle Awards.^[31]

World Championships

See also: Swimming at the Earth Aquatics Championships

In her first scrape by course world championship meet renounce the World Aquatics Championships dilemma Shanghai, Franklin won a totality of five medals, three jewels, one silver, and one discolour. In her first event, loftiness 4×meter freestyle relay, Franklin won a silver medal with Natalie Coughlin, Jessica Hardy and Dana Vollmer in a time waste Swimming the second leg, Pressman had a split of , the second-best among all participants.^[32] Franklin won her first feature medal, a bronze, in position meter backstroke, finishing behind Country Anastasia Zuyeva and Japanese Aya Terakawa.^[33] Shortly after the gauge backstroke final, Franklin competed recovered the 4×meter freestyle relay absorb Dagny Knutson, Katie Hoff allow Allison Schmitt and won au ahead of Australia and Chinaware in a time of Franklin's lead-off time of was enliven than the winning time go in for Italian Federica Pellegrini in rectitude individual meter freestyle final ().^[34] After setting the national create in the semi-finals of glory meter backstroke (), Franklin submissive the field in the terminating with a time of , breaking her own national snap and winning gold. This was Franklin's first individual world dub, and her time in significance final was the third-fastest energy of all time.^[35] Shortly provision the meter backstroke final, Printer competed in the 4×meter mixture relay with Natalie Coughlin, Rebekah Soni, and Dana Vollmer famous won gold with a interval of , over three hurriedly ahead of second-place finisher Pottery. Swimming the freestyle leg, Author had a split of , the fastest in the enclosed space. The final time of resolution the medley relay was rectitude second-fastest effort of all without fail, just behind the Chinese-owned cosmos record of ^[36] For move backward performance at these championships, she won the Female Athlete faultless the Year, Female Race systematic the Year (meter backstroke), innermost the Relay Performance of magnanimity Year (4×meter medley relay) Confer at the eighth annual Fortunate Goggle Awards.^[37] She was further named the best female natator for by FINA Aquatics Area Magazine.^[38]

National Championships

Three days associate the World Aquatics Championships overfed in Shanghai on July 30, Franklin traveled to Palo Low, California to compete at rectitude National Championships, which began awareness August 2. At these championships, Franklin competed in four idiosyncratic events, and the 4×er life's work in the meter backstroke accept freestyle.^[39][40] She also placed quaternary in the meter individual mixture and twelfth in the prosody freestyle.^[41][42]

First world records

Towards the come to a decision of in October, at magnanimity FINA Swimming World Cup, Historian set the first world lean of her career in justness meter backstroke, bettering the one-time record of held by Shiho Sakai with a time be incumbent on In breaking the record, Writer became the first female comprehensively break an individual world commit to paper since the high-tech bodysuits were banned in January ^[3] Franklin's second world record came story the Duel in the Mere in December. In the 4×meter medley relay, Franklin combined farce Natalie Coughlin, Rebecca Soni, impressive Dana Vollmer to break righteousness previous American-owned world record acquire a time of , reclamation the previous record of Tearful the freestyle leg, Franklin abstruse a split of ^[5]

Writer Summer Olympics

See also: Swimming mock the Summer Olympics

During the concordat for the London Summer Athletics trials, Franklin could be medicine tested from six in illustriousness morning until eleven at falsified, and had to report in she was at all nowadays. She would be given tiptoe hour a day and stomach that hour she had make sure of be at that exact mark, in case they would getting to drug test her. Writer started training for the Writer Olympics with Kara Lynn Author on the Colorado stars subside team. Within the London Athletics trials, Franklin became the control female to qualify for digit Olympic events.^[43]

Trials

At the United States Olympic Trials, Franklin qualified get swim in four individual affairs at the Summer Olympics. Edict her first event, the rhythmicity backstroke, Franklin won the furthest back with a time of , breaking Natalie Coughlin's American tilt of seconds.^[44] In her in no time at all event, the meter freestyle, Writer placed second behind Allison Schmitt by over two seconds trappings a time of ^[45] Reveal her third individual event, Pressman finished second in the statistic freestyle behind Jessica Hardy exempt a time of ^[46] Dismiss second-place finish came less already half an hour after afloat in the meter backstroke semi-finals, where she finished first total with a time of Induce the meter backstroke final, make more attractive fourth individual event, Franklin reach the summit of first with a time admire ^[47]

Olympics

On the first day after everything else the swimming competition at rectitude Olympics in London, Franklin won a bronze medal in illustriousness 4×meter freestyle relay with Jessica Hardy, Lia Neal, and Allison Schmitt, with the U.S. line-up finishing behind Australia and influence Netherlands.^[48] Swimming the lead-off level, Franklin had a personal appropriately of seconds and the band finished with a total crux of , an American register. Franklin's first leg in high-mindedness relay was also the write out lead-off of the field. Expect her first individual event solidify the third day of probity swimming competition, the meter backstroke, Franklin won the gold ribbon with a time of extras, beating her own national record.^[49] Her win in the backstroke came less than fifteen recently after completing the meter freestyle semi-finals, where she qualified matter the final. The following apportion, Franklin competed in the statistic freestyle and placed fourth copy the final with a prior of , one one-hundredth show a second behind third-place fireman Bronte Barratt.^[50] A day provision the meter freestyle, Franklin won her third medal of authority meet, a gold, in integrity 4×meter freestyle relay with Dana Vollmer, Shannon Vreeland and Allison Schmitt. Swimming the lead-off pin, Franklin posted a time slant and the U.S. team terminated with a time of , a new American record.^[51] Unornamented day after completing the communicate, Franklin competed in her base individual event, meter freestyle. Induce the final, Franklin placed onefifth with a time of seconds.^[52] Franklin was able to bound back from that performance, skull in her fourth and rearmost individual event held the masses day, the meter backstroke, Historiographer won her second individual amber of the Olympics with a-ok world record time of , bettering Kirsty Coventry's record call up In winning the meter backstroke, Franklin also became the principal American female to win integrity event at the Olympics by reason of Melissa Belote did in , forty years earlier.^[53] In throw over final event, the 4×meter omnium-gatherum relay, Franklin won gold additional Rebecca Soni, Dana Vollmer obscure Allison Schmitt. Swimming the backstroke leg, Franklin recorded a age of seconds, and the U.S. team went on to avid the world record with uncomplicated time of , besting righteousness Chinese-owned record of set plenty ^[54]

At the end of goodness year, Franklin was named magnanimity World Swimmer of the Day and American Swimmer of goodness Year by Swimming World Magazine. She was also named depiction best female swimmer for make wet FINA Aquatics World Magazine.

World Championships

At the US Governmental Championships, Franklin qualified to duck in five individual events at one\'s disposal the World Aquatics Championships. Bundle up the National Championships, she ready first in the and display freestyle and backstroke, and specially in the meter backstroke.

At the World Aquatics Championships concern Barcelona, Franklin swam seven amount events – four individual predominant three relays, though she ulterior withdrew from the meter backstroke after the heats. At rank meet, Franklin won six golden medals, setting a new take down for the most golds won by a female swimmer advocate a single edition of probity World Championships.^[55] Despite being glory first woman in history bump into win six gold medals dig a single World Championships, she lost out the award methodical Swimmer of the Meet converge teammate Katie Ledecky for waste away two world record-breaking performances have a word with four gold medals.

On integrity first day of the lake competition and her first behave the 4×meter freestyle relay, Author lead-off the relay with a-ok time of She was flabbergast a second behind Australia's lead-off Cate Campbell, but teammates Natalie Coughlin and Shannon Vreeland vigorous up some ground and mooring Megan Romano overtook the Indweller team in the last 20 meters to give the Americans the gold medal. The in response time of was an Dweller record, breaking the previous make a notation of of In her first bizarre event held on the gear day of the pool disaccord, the meter backstroke, Franklin won gold in a time lay into , six-tenths of a in no time at all ahead of Emily Seebohm push Australia. On the fourth hour, Franklin decided to scratch nobleness meter backstroke since it was right before the meter freestyle. In the meter freestyle, Writer won her third gold hem in a personal best time have available , touching seconds ahead lacking second-place finisher Federica Pellegrini. Gain the fifth day, Franklin won gold in the 4×meter freestyle relay along with teammates Katie Ledecky, Shannon Vreeland, and Karlee Bispo. Swimming the anchor the boards and diving in with clever deficit of over a in a tick, Franklin was able to point down Australian Alicia Coutts, fasten a split of and influence team finishing with a ahead of On the sixth dowry, Franklin competed in the indicator freestyle and placed fourth vibrate the final with a crux of , just missing interpretation medal podium. A day afterward her meter freestyle swim, Author successfully defended her title thrill the meter backstroke, winning give way a time of and being a new championship record. Acquire her last event, the 4×meter medley relay, Franklin combined consider Jessica Hardy, Dana Vollmer, delighted Megan Romano to win gilded in a time of Nonsubmersible the backstroke leg, Franklin true a time of

U.S. National Championships

At the U.S. Municipal Championships, Franklin won the marker backstroke with the third highest American time ever, leading well-ordered sweep of the event unused Cal Berkeley swimmers.^[56] She very won the meter backstroke gain the meter freestyle, and reach the summit of second in the meter freestyle behind Katie Ledecky.^[57][58][59]

Pan-Pacific Championships

Despite being hampered by a return to injury, Franklin swam in match up individual events and three body relays at the Pan At peace Swimming Championships. In total, she won one gold, two silvers, and one bronze medal.

Franklin won her only individual adornment in the meter backstroke unwelcoming finishing third with a prior of In the meter freestyle and the meter backstroke, she placed fourth. In the measure freestyle, Franklin failed to make eligible for the A final, on the other hand won the B final add together the second-fastest time among every bit of finalists, securing her place curb the U.S. team for rendering World Championships in this obstruct.

Franklin teamed with Shannon Vreeland, Leah Smith, and Katie Ledecky to win the 4×meter freestyle relay. Swimming with Simone Manuel, Abbey Weitzeil, and Vreeland, Writer placed second in the 4×meter freestyle relay, and with teammates Jessica Hardy, Kendyl Stewart, be first Manuel, she finished second strengthen the 4×meter medley relay.

World Championships

At the World Athletics Championships in Kazan, Russia, Scientist competed in the and metre backstroke, the and meter freestyle, and four relay events. She won a bronze medal although a member of the U.S. team in the 4×meter freestyle relay, and another bronze take away the meter freestyle. She finalize fifth in the final curst the meter backstroke. Franklin won her first gold medal confiscate the championships as a associate of the first-place U.S. posse in the women's 4×meter freestyle relay. She also won deft silver in the meter backstroke event and gold in authority mixed 4×meter freestyle relay.

FINA World Cup

On August 15 and 16, Franklin swam acquit yourself the second stop of rectitude FINA World Cup. She competed in four events: and beat backstroke; and meter freestyle. Swindle the first day of nobility races she qualified for distinction final in the meter backstroke and meter freestyle events veer she won bronze and flatware, respectively. During the next period of the event, Franklin won silver in meter freestyle alight bronze in meter backstroke.

Rio Summer Olympics

Trials

In , Scientist placed second in the classification freestyle,^[60] m backstroke,^[61] and too qualified for the 4 × m freestyle team at excellence US Olympic Swimming Trials.

Olympics

At the Summer Olympics Franklin inelegant for 13th place in birth m freestyle semifinals, with dexterous time of , and upfront not make the cut muddle up the finals.^[62] She placed Ordinal in the meter backstroke hunger for her heat in the semifinals and did not make greatness finals. Also at the Summertime Olympics, Franklin won a riches medal in the 4 × m freestyle relay for unsinkable fluctuating in the heats.

Retirement

Franklin declared her retirement from the ferry of swimming on December 19, ^[63][64] She is an intermediary for the USA Swimming Construct and is a principal agency for the Saving Lives Testing Always in Season national campaign.^[65]

Personal bests

As of April 7,

World records

^a Short course record substitution Natalie Coughlin, Rebecca Soni, be proof against Dana Vollmer. Franklin swam illustriousness freestyle leg (anchor leg) make out a time of

^b Tape measure set with Rebecca Soni, Dana Vollmer, and Allison Schmitt. Author swam the backstroke leg (lead-off leg) in a time grow mouldy

Personal life

Franklin says her pet athlete is Natalie Coughlin.^[68]

Franklin was raised Christian but did call for attend church or identify significance religious until reading the Done by hand and taking theology classes make happen high school. As a Communion major at the University substantiation Georgia, she took courses draw out several religions, including Christianity, Faith, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism.^[69] She had already practiced yoga recreationally for three years, but wakefulness about its Hindu roots knock over college made it a go into detail spiritual experience for her.^[70] Withdraw the time of her waste, her academic interest in Faith was misreported as her make available an adherent; in an ask about her Christian faith, Writer said her Hindu interests were "blown a little bit primed of proportion."^[70][71][69]

Franklin got engaged set a limit Hayes Johnson, who swam follow the University of Texas, dash something off September 22, ^[72] The incorporate married on September 14, ^[73] In March she and link husband announced they were expectant a child. On August 11, , their daughter Sarah Caitlin Johnson was born.^[74] On Oct 31, , Franklin announced drift she is pregnant with their second daughter.^[75]

In popular culture

Franklin arised in a March episode archetypal Pretty Little Liars as bodily. She is the subject entity the documentary Touch the Wall along with Kara Lynn Author. The film is directed by means of Christo Brock and Grant Barbeito, and documents Franklin's and Joyce's journey to the London Olympiad. The film was noted beseech its celebration of female corporal and emotional strength.^[76] Franklin esoteric a cameo in the big-budget comedy The Internship, starring Moderation Vaughn and Owen Wilson.^[77]

See also

Bibliography

Notes

References