17-year-old ‘Missile’ Franklin is all giggles after winning first gold medal
LONDON (MCT) — The most remarkable thing about 17-year-old Missy “The Missile’’ Franklin is not that she won a gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke Monday night, her second medal these Olympics after taking bronze over the weekend in the 4x100 relay. It isn’t that she won it 14 minutes after swimming a 200-meter freestyle semifinal heat, tough as that certainly was.
No, the reason America will be amazed by this teenager from suburban Denver over the next few days is that she is so normal outside the pool.
She still swims for the Regis Jesuit High School team. She plans to return for her senior year no matter how many medals she wins in the seven events (yes, seven) in which she is entered. “I can’t wait to get back to Regis, it’s the most amazing place in the world,’’ she said. Last month, she stuffed her size 13 feet into fancy shoes and attended her junior prom. She has turned down more than $100,000 in endorsements to maintain her amateur status because she is still contemplating college. She is an A-student. Like so many girls her age, she loves One Direction and Justin Bieber. She polishes her nails in bright colors. And, word is she still travels with a teddy bear.
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