War Cry - May, 2015 Page 30

Missy Franklin competes

in the women's 200-meter

backstroke during preliminaries.

The War Cry | MAY 2015

T WHAT POINT in your life did you decide

to pursue your Olympic dream?

MISSY FRANKLIN:

When I was 12 years old,

Coach Todd Schmitz and I had our usual

fall planning meeting. He asked me what

my goals were for the year, and I said

to qualify for the Olympic Trials in the summer. During
that year, I qualified in three events and participated in
the Olympic Trials in June 2008 when I was 13. I loved
every second of this experience and knew that in 2012
I wanted to compete for a spot on the US Olympic Team.

BONHAM:

How did you get into swimming and what about the sport

do you most appreciate and enjoy?

FRANKLIN:

My mom and I took a Mom and Me class when I was six

months old. I guess I loved it and smiled at my mom underwater. Before
I turned three, I snorkeled in Maui and scared my mom to death when
I tried to follow a beautiful fish out to sea. I started swimming competi-
tively when I was five years old. My neighborhood, Heritage Greens, has
a summer league team and we compete in the Rocky Mountain Swim

Every Day,

My Fa th

Grows

Reprinted with permission from Beliefnet.com. Read the original article at www.beliefnet.com/

columnists/inspiringathletes/2012/06/a-conversation-with-u-s-olympian-missy-franklin.html.

CHAD BONHAM:

Colorado native and
professional swimmer
Missy Franklin

burst onto the

world stage at 17, when she won fi ve
medals, four of which were gold, at
the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
In doing so, Franklin drew com-
parisons to Michael Phelps, the most
decorated Olympian ever. Phelps
himself has said, "She's probably one
of the best female swimmers I've ever
seen. She can do anything."

Franklin began swimming at age

fi ve, showing a natural affi

nity for the

water. Nicknamed "Missy the mis-
sile," it seems she was born to swim.
Her physique grants her a natural
advantage; she stands at six-foot-
one, wears size 13 shoes and has a
six-foot-four wingspan. Franklin's
combination of physical traits, techni-
cal profi ciency and competitive spirit