Who is Missy Franklin? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Melissa Jeanette Franklin

Age: 28 Years, 28 Year Old Females

Family:

father: Dick Franklin

mother: D.A. Franklin

Born Country: United States

Swimmers American Women

Height: 6'2" (188 cm), 6'2" Females

Ancestry: Canadian American

U.S. State: California

City: Pasadena, California

More Facts

education: University Of California, Berkeley, University Of Georgia

awards: Best U.S. Female Olympian ESPY Award
Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year
Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award

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Childhood & Early Life

Missy was born Melissa Jeanette Franklin, on May 10, 1995, in Pasadena, California. She is the only child of Dick and D A Franklin.

She was 5 years old when she had her first swimming lesson. She took up swimming lessons so she could get comfortable around water, as her mother would often be worried about water safety.

Franklin holds both American and Canadian citizenships. Her father was a football player until he had to give up his career due to an injury. He then completed his MBA from ‘Dalhousie University,’ where he met his wife. The family settled in Ontario, Canada, until her father was transferred to the US. The family then settled in Denver, Colorado. Although her mother wanted Missy to play for Canada, Missy decided to play for the US national team.

She grew up in Centennial, Colorado, and attended the ‘Regis Jesuit High School.’ In 2012, she attended the ‘University of California’ in Berkley on an athletic scholarship. She began training with the ‘California Golden Bears’ in the 2013–14 academic year.

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Early Career

She became part of the ‘Colorado Stars’ travel swim team at the age of 7 and soon discovered her passion for swimming. At the age of 13, she competed at the 2008 ‘US Olympic Team Trials’ but could not qualify for the ‘Olympics.’

She won her career’s first international medal in the 200-meter backstroke event at the 2010 ‘FINA Short-Course World Championships’ in Dubai. While in college, Missy became a four-time individual ‘NCAA’ champion. She won three individual ‘NCAA’ titles at the 2015 ‘NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship.’

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Career

In 2011, she won five medals at the ‘World Aquatics Championships’ in Shanghai. The tally included three gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze medal. She broke her own national record by clocking 2:05.10 in the final of the 200-meter backstroke event. This was also Franklin’s first individual world title.

Three days after her event in Shanghai, Franklin competed at the 2011 ‘National Championships’ in California. She stood fourth in the 200-meter individual medley and twelfth in the 50-meter freestyle event.

She made her first world record in the 200-meter backstroke event at the 2011 ‘FINA Swimming World Cup’ by clocking 2:00.03, beating the previous record of 2:00.13 by Shiho Sakai. She set another world record at the 2011 ‘Duel in the Pool’ by clocking 3:45.56.

Franklin became the first woman to qualify for seven ‘Olympic’ events. She competed in four events at the ‘2012 Summer Olympics’ and was placed first in both the 200-meter and 100-meter backstroke events. She made it to the second place in the 200-meter freestyle event. She was again placed second in the 100-meter freestyle event.

Franklin competed at the 2012 ‘London Olympics’ at the age of 17. She won a bronze medal on the first day of her competition, in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay.

She won the gold in the 100-meter backstroke, which was her first individual event at the competition. She also won the gold in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay.

She won her second individual gold in the 200-meter backstroke event, becoming the first American woman to win this ‘Olympics’ event in 40 years, since Melissa Belote in 1972.

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She won her final gold in the 4x100-meter medley relay as part of the US national team. Franklin competed at the 2013 ‘Aquatics World Championships’ in Barcelona after securing the first place in the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle and backstroke events at the ‘US National Championships.’

She became the first female swimmer to win six gold medals in a single event of the ‘World Championships.’ However, she lost the ‘Swimmer of the Meet’ title to Katie Ledecky, who had won four gold medals in the competition and had broken two records.

In 2014, she participated in the ‘Pan Pacific Swimming Championships’ and won four medals: one gold, two silvers, and a bronze. In 2015, she won two bronze medals, two gold medals, and one silver medal at the ‘World Aquatics Championships’ in Kazan, Russia.

At the 2015 ‘FINA World Cup,’ Missy Franklin competed in four events and won two bronze medals and two silver medals. At the trials for the 2016 ‘Summer Olympics,’ Missy acquired the second place in both the 200-meter freestyle and the 200-meter backstroke events, eventually qualifying for the ‘US Olympics.’

At the 2016 ‘Summer Olympics,’ Missy won a gold medal in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay. She competed in the 200-meter backstroke event and was placed seventh.

She could not qualify for the finals of the 200-meter freestyle event after being placed 13th in the semi-finals.

Other works

In 2013, Missy Franklin made an appearance as herself in an episode of the hit series ‘Pretty Little Liars.’

She also made a small appearance in the film ‘The Internship,’ starring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn.

The 2014 documentary ‘Touch the Wall’ narrated the swimming journeys of Missy and Kara Lynn Joyce.

She has also written a book titled ‘Relentless Spirit.’

Awards & Achievements

Apart from winning countless medals, Missy has earned various other awards. In 2010, she won the ‘Breakout Performer of the Year Award’ at the ‘Golden Goggle Awards.’

In 2011, Missy Franklin won the ‘Female Athlete of the Year,’ the ‘Female Race of the Year’ (200-meter backstroke), and the ‘Relay Performance of the Year’ (4×100-meter medley relay) awards at the ‘Golden Goggle Awards.’ She was also awarded the title of the ‘Best Female Swimmer’ for 2011 by the ‘FINA Aquatics World Magazine.’

In 2012, after her remarkable ‘Olympic’ wins, she was named the ‘World Swimmer of the Year’ and the ‘American Swimmer of the Year’ by ‘Swimming World.’ She was also named the ‘Best Female Swimmer’ for 2012 by the ‘FINA Aquatics World Magazine.’

Personal Life

Missy Franklin strongly believes in God and has accepted that she often converses with God. Although she is a world-class swimmer, Missy wishes to study broadcast journalism and has earned a degree in psychology.

In 2012, Missy Franklin was in a relationship with fellow swimmer John Martens. The couple broke up later. In 2013, Missy was reportedly dating Daniel Butler.

Missy Franklin is married to Hayes Johnson. The couple is�expecting their first child in August 2021.

Missy Franklin Biography