At 17, Missy Franklin became a swimming superstar after winning four gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics. However, she could not repeat her success at the next Olympics. Speaking for her International Women’s Day, she said: sky sports news About success, family, mental health, her transformation at the charity Laureus and why she’s still known as the girl who went viral in Carly Rae Jepson’s videos.
with label “Missy the Missile”Franklin shot to fame at the 2012 London Olympics, winning five Olympic medals, including four gold.
Ms Franklin said she had “the best years of my life” in London and that swimming had been her life since she was five years old.
Franklin exceeded expectations in both the 100m backstroke and 200m backstroke, and also broke world records in the distance. He then helped set his world record in the 4x100m medley relay, winning his third gold medal. He placed fourth in the 4×200 meter freestyle relay.
She said, “To be able to go on and be successful at that level and go to the Olympics at 17 was pretty incredible and a great experience for me.”
Franklin also said that since it was her first Olympics, there was no pressure and she was able to really enjoy the moment.
that virus call me maybe Phelps and Lochte video…
Franklin, who returned home after winning four Olympic gold medals, said: “When I came back from London, it felt like it was 50-50 whether I was going to be recognized as an Olympic swimmer or not.” I was hysterical because of that,” he said. call me maybe video.
she said, explaining why the USA Swimming team made the video. sky sports news They came up with the idea during an international training camp where they were “full of energy” and “a little bored.”
She said, “Our thought process at the time was Carly Rae Jepsen’s.” call me maybe was so popular that many teams were making karaoke videos singing along to it, but we were like, why not? What else are we going to do? ”
The lip-sync video on YouTube has been viewed more than 18 million times and features most of the U.S. swimming team.
Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history, appears at the beginning, and Ryan Lochte makes a brief appearance blowing a kiss to the camera. Team members Alyssa Anderson, Kathleen Hershey, and Caitlin Leverentz were the driving force behind the project. Sequences were filmed underwater, on slides, and even on the famous plane.
But more than winning four Olympic gold medals, it was Missy Franklin’s enthusiasm, passion, and big smile that made many Americans aware of her role in a viral video in 2012. was.
Franklin admits that no one could have imagined how popular it would become. “I don’t think any of us could have imagined what would happen. I was just at an event and I think someone said it was 18 million views.” , added the 28-year-old, who has won 11 Olympic gold medals. World Swimming Championships.
“But it was a lot of fun, because it really gave me a lot of insight into what our team is like, what our team personality is like, and really how much fun it was. We were just really having fun and all of us were just genuine.”I’m so happy to be a part of it because I felt like we gave the world an insightful look. That video represents exactly that. ”
“Swimming broke up with me.”
After a successful career, Franklin announced his retirement in 2018 at just 23 years old. She described it as “as if her swimming had broken up with her.”
When speaking to Mariam Chaudhary, she said, “I put it that way because I think it’s a very easy way for people to understand, because most of us have gone through a tough breakup and it’s hard to let something go. “It’s been such an important part of your life for so long, and it’s scary because you don’t know what’s going to happen next. And that’s exactly how I felt when I left.”
Many elite athletes, including her former teammates Phelps and Lochte, have been very open about their mental health struggles. Franklin said post-Olympic depression is “a very real thing for athletes” who have reached the pinnacle of the Olympics and their sport.
she said: ”You work hard all your life to get to this pinnacle, and once you get there, you have to come down again.
“And going down that path is really difficult for a lot of people. So I think being able to voice that is really important.”
But Franklin believes it’s not just specific to sports. It’s also “permeating everyday life,” she says, and athletes aren’t the only ones facing similar challenges.
She said from her home in Nashville. “Even if you don’t have the same experience as someone else, if you can talk about your experience, what you’ve been through, and how you got through it, there’s still a way to empathize and gain insight and knowledge.” How, and most importantly, know that you are not alone in how you feel.”
“There was a lot of pressure and expectations in Rio.”
Becoming London’s most successful swimmer in 2012 came with new challenges and even greater performance expectations. And she knew it.
“I wasn’t a 17-year-old, I was a 21-year-old who had done this before and done well, so now there was an expectation that I could come back and do even better,” Franklin said. I had set the bar quite high for myself. ”
Franklin failed to advance beyond the semifinals in any individual event at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Speaking about that time, she added: “There was so much pressure and expectation and I think that had a big impact on my mental health, because for the first time I stopped swimming out of love and joy for the sport and started swimming out of fear.” thing. ”
She said that not being able to perform the way she wanted in 2016 had a negative impact on her “self-esteem and identity.”
“After that competition, I had a lot of work to do, and working with therapists and sports psychologists, I was finally able to find myself again and be that little girl who first fell in love with the water.” I was about to get back to looking for something.”
“I love Adam Peaty, who’s goofy and hilarious.”
Another swimmer who has spoken out about his recent struggles with mental health is Adam Peaty. British swimmers won two gold medals at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, adding to their gold medal in Rio.
However, he withdrew from elite swimming last year citing mental health issues and later admitted he had been in a “spiral of self-destruction”.
Franklin and Peaty’s careers overlapped at the Olympics eight years ago, and she has fond memories of their time together.
“I adore Adam…talk about joy! He’s one of the goofiest, just fun people I’ve ever met, and one of the most talented people this sport has ever seen.” One of the swimmers,” Franklin says.
“I am so grateful to have had the memories to share with Adam and remember spending time with him in Rio after the Olympics.
“His smile is contagious and when you’re around him and he’s smiling, it’s impossible not to feel good. I love his openness and vulnerability and what he’s been through. I am very grateful for his tenure and advice.”
“It’s very difficult because everyone is different. But I think one of the most important things is to understand that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It’s the most courageous thing a person can do. It’s one of those things.”
If you notice your mental health starting to decline, Franklin advises “reaching out and talking to someone about it.”
“I don’t think we should go through this life alone, whether it’s a friend, a loved one, a professional, a therapist, a psychologist.”
“My daughter is my whole world.”
Franklin wrote an open letter ESPN Announced retirement in 2018.
Despite the medals, titles and honors, Franklin wanted something more. “I’m ready to be a wife, and one day I’m going to be a mother.” She also added that she’s ready “for the rest of her life.”
She married Hayes Johnson, who also has a swimming background, in 2019 and gave birth to her first child in 2021.
Franklin said of her daughter Sarah Caitlin Johnson: “She’s my whole world and I’m her mother and I can think of no greater responsibility than to raise her. Without a doubt, she’s my biggest… This is my greatest accomplishment and my greatest joy.”
“I think it will be really special to be able to talk about all of these amazing experiences with her one day and pass on what I learned from all of them for her,” she added.
Can a sportswoman be an elite athlete and have a family at the same time? Franklin’s advice to sportswomen is to “do what’s best for you.”
“We are all individual, unique and in our own ways there are women who show us that it is possible. Listen to your voice, know your priorities and , just do what’s best and what feels right for you. “
Meeting Mark Spitz in an elevator in Kuala Lumpur
One of Franklin’s greatest achievements came ten years ago when she became the youngest recipient of the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award. Although she was only 18 years old when she received this award, she broke the previous record held by Serena Williams, who won the award at age 21.
Reflecting on this feat, she says: “Oh my gosh, I was so proud! I remember that event like it was yesterday.
“I remember meeting (nine-time Olympic swimming champion) Mark Spitz in the elevator of this hotel in Kuala Lumpur, and it was such an amazing thing. I couldn’t believe I had been nominated and actually I couldn’t believe I’d won the award.”When I won this award, I had no idea that Laureus would have such an impact on my life.
“But then I learned what Laureus is, what we stand for, and what we contribute to the world through sport, and I knew I wanted to be involved for as long as I could, and thankfully They agreed to take me on and I wanted to be a part of it. ”
She will be attending the 25th Laureus Sports Awards in Madrid on April 22nd. Nominees for Sportswoman of the Year include Sha Kari Richardson, Sherica Jackson, Aitana Bommati, Faith Kipyegon, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Iga Swiatek.
Erling Haaland, Noah Lyles, Novak Djokovic, Lionel Messi, Mondo Duplantis and Max Verstappen are just some of the big names nominated for Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.
Franklin also became the youngest member of the Laureus World Sports Academy in 2019. She is also its vice president. Sports for Good Foundation.
As part of her role, she is an integral part of board meetings, influencing the decision-making process to decide which initiatives to support and communicating with other team members to ensure program success.
She added, “It’s such an honor to work with such great athletes and members of this organization. It means everything to me.”
But her favorite part remains being out there and seeing work done “on the ground.”
“I always try to find opportunities like that and get involved in projects, because going to see the kids is always easily the best thing ever, and I love how we do it on the ground. Because you can see what you’re working on.” It’s having a huge impact on children’s lives.
She remembers the message of Nelson Mandela’s powerful words in 2000.
“Sports have the power to change the world.”
