College Swimming News: Five-time 2012 Olympic medalist, Missy Franklin, enters her freshman year at UC Berkeley.
Franklin’s star rose in swimming, and beyond, on her run-up to the 2012 London Olympic Games, partly because she chose to remain an amateur athlete. A lot of hype surrounded the young swimming phenom before she delivered in London — endless media requests, starring in a documentary film (to be released soon) — and all the while she remained composed. Many swimming analysts credit Franklin’s down-to-earth nature. With the support of her parents and club coach, Todd Schmitz, she has stayed truth to her word to keep swimming fun.
Franklin enters UC Berkeley after a stunning summer performance at the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, where she won 6 gold medals. Her performance in freestyle wowed fans. Franklin won the 200 freestyle at Worlds in 1:54.81. (Franklin did not medal in the 200 freestyle at the London Olympics where she went 1:55.81 coming in 4th.)
At UC Berkeley, Franklin will swim under Coach Teri McKeever, considered by many to be one of the greatest coaches in swimming history.
This is the first instance we can remember of a college swimmer holding a press conference at the beginning of the year. In order to allow Franklin the opportunity to adapt to her new environment as a college freshman and as a member of the Cal women’s swimming & diving team, Wednesday’s press conference will be her only media availability until early October, according to Cal’s media staff.
just glanced at the 2013-2014 roster for the men…Ryan Murphy isn’t listed…am I blind??
I believe there’s a problem with their roster. It’s listed as the 2013/2014 roster but it’s the 2012/2013 roster. There’s Tom Shields in the list. So no surprise to not see Ryan Murphy.
http://www.calbears.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=30100&SPID=126526&SPSID=762414
I think it will be updated very quickly.
Murphy’s definitely in Berkeley. The team just started formal practices this week and they haven’t taken individual pictures yet. I’d expect the website to be updated in the next two weeks.
Missy’s having the time of her life. Teri’s teams always do a lot of team building activities early in the season, and this year’s freshman class is extremely close. The current junior class is also very tight nit and that chemistry bodes well for good things in March.
Teri is moved to tears at 15 minutes. Great to watch.
I don’t understand everything she says but she must feel she’s lucky to have such a great swimmer in her team. And as she said, it’s scary too.
Who is Missy’s roommate? I have understood a freshman swimmer.
bobo i think they will be keeping her identity a lil secret for now to give both of them some privacy.
heres a related article
http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_23965503/missy-franklin-starts-life-at-cal-amid-celebrity
So much fun!
Exciting!
Awesome!
Amazing!
I’m so excited!
We should count the number of times Missy uses these words. 🙂
Thank you for the video.
I can’t wait to see if Missy can improve her underwaters with Teri.
If yes, it’s scary for her opponents.
Todd Schmitz has done a wonderful job with her.
Good luck to Missy in her new environment.
What a unique and interesting situation with Missy at Cal. A normal student-athlete? Good luck with that. Is there a more globally famous freshman entering college this fall? In history?
There’s so much to consider, obviously, as mentioned at this news conference. (And, by the way, salute to Teri McKeever for addressing “the elephant in the room” by having this introductory news conference for Missy.) Privacy, safety, harassment, social media awareness, consideration for/of teammates/roommate, etc. Missy is not just your typical 18-year-old who’s away from home for the first time, a life change that is difficult enough for any freshman. Lots to consider.
From what I’ve read about Teri McKeever over the past year, I get the feeling Missy is… Read more »