Missy Franklin (courtesy of Paul Younan)
Missy Franklin lead the Cal Golden Bears to an NCAA Team Title in March ending her two-year college swimming experience. The 4-time Olympic Champion is officially a professional swimmer, represented WME IMG (William Morris Endeavor / International Management Group). Franklin’s timing, turning pro now, is ideal. Most Olympic superstars finalize endorsement partnerships the year before the Olympic Games.
Where Franklin will train for the 2015 FINA World Championships this summer in Kazan or for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio has not been officially announced.
You can follow Missy Franklin on Twitter here.
This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
Posted in reply to Ohioswimmer’s comment/question above.
You are right – she doesn’t have to say anything at all if she doesn’t want to.
But apparently, she does want to – a lot. She seems extradordinarily motivated to speak to the public. As you noted, she never seems to pass up an opportunity to engage the media. Unlike Phelps, who was akward with media early on, she has crafted an image outside the pool, and to her credit this is a big part of her earnings power as a pro.
So I agree – she doesn’t have to engage in topics beyond unicorns, rainbows, and “amazing” if she doesn’t want. Not saying it’s fair, but recent history has shown there may be hazards to that approach.… Read more »
Thanks for a thoughtful and balanced article, Mel. While I was initially skeptical of Missy’s perpetual sunny disposition, if it were truly only an act for show she would have been “outed” long before now. It’s not like her career has gone perfectly and she’s had ample opportunities to snap.
Personally think her best training option would be with Dave Durden. She’d be able to train back with Murphy and Pebley and sprints with Adrian, Ervin, and Natalie. Would still have her support group with her teammates and Teri, but with some emotional detachment to pursue her own goals as a pro.
I think a lot of peoples (mine included) suspicions of disingenuouity would disappear if she had a broader vocabulary when interviewing. (she is without a doubt a smart girl- don’t take tat the wrong way).
She just uses some phrases so often. Everyone and Everything can’t be ‘amazing’.
If she mixed it up a bit it wouldn’t feel robotic and like she’s blinking an SOS to the camera.
I have no doubt she is a bright and sweet person. My few interactions with her have been good. But I can see the opening she leaves people to think it’s a PR thing.
Mel, any idea on Missy’s best training place for the next 10 years?
Cal with Teri McKeever and a strong training group?
Or back in Colorado with Todd Schmitz to train at high altitude all year? By the way, is training at high altitude 24/7 all year a huge advantage, yes or no? I would want to read your opinion about that.
BOBO – I simply don’t know. I think WME IMG with make an announcement / distribute a press release when Missy decides.
And about training at high altitude all year? Is it a huge advantage or not?
I think nowadays, the thinking is live high, train low for optimum results. Back when I was in HS I lived at 7000 feet, but trained at about 4000. Don’t think it helped 😉
You know 2016 will determine the fact that it was a mistake for her to compete in College. The end.
Mel,
I truly appreciate you taking the time to write that reply. You are my favorite personality in USA swimming. But….
My #1 problem is there is no way MS is going to say a bad word about USA swimmings safest marketing tool. Sorry Mel – you are part of the group. It doesn’t make you wrong…it is like asking an employee if there boss is the greatest 🙂
#2. Who was going to run down Missy?!?! KL is still in High School…..was SM?!?!
#3. The reverence for Franklin is sycophantic. The USA swimming machine is doing a great job and maybe I should just zip it…..but I am annoyed that everything she does gets praised. I think there… Read more »
Why are you always so jealous of her?
Sorry but it becomes a little pathological.
Has Missy lapped your daughter 10 years ago at a small swimming age group meet? You couldn’t accept it and you blame her for that outrage since then? 🙂
Bobo,
My kids are all under 2…..so….
Jealous is 100% the wrong word.
Mel said it best:
“BTW, I get annoyed with “everyone is perfect” PR b/c it’s so plain vanilla. It bores me. When people make mistakes, they seem more human, closer to earth…a place where I can trust them…”
I find complaints about her being boring way more boring than anything she says. Her swimming is exciting and that’s what I’m in it for. And if you can’t trust someone because they’re too perfect or too vanilla it’s probably more your issue than hers. If you’re a journalist, go interview somebody you find more interesting and get us a story or angle we may have missed if you’re tired of the same old thing from Franklin. Why would you need to trust a sports celeb anyway? It’s entertainment, or at most a business transaction, not an intimate friendship relationship you’re in with her. USAmericans, both fans and media we need to chill on our relationship with prof athletes and… Read more »
Liquid,
You are taking the word “trust” to literally.
You are also making the “boring” argument that “I just care about the sport not them.” I have heard it a million times. “I don’t care about what they do as long as they are fast.” That argument is so played out and simply untrue. Move on you hypocrite.
Bad Parent – Missy sealed her place in the sport in 2012. She doesn’t have to prove herself anymore… If she performs in ’16, that’s a bonus.
KL – in my opinion – will go down as the greatest female swimmer in history. That’s a prediction, and, yes, she’s got a ways to go to secure it, but KL is a swim-slayer. B/C Missy had her historic moment, she’s developing into a leader…you can see that part of her developing season over season….
Regarding ’16, Missy has to earn her performance, and it is far, far more difficult once you’ve had success to repeat it. Missy’s training over the next 8 months will determine that.
BTW, I… Read more »
Thanks Mel
Bad parent, be proud of her. You are very lucky, as American, to have such a talent in the US swimming team.
Very lucky!
2 amazing talents u mean BOBO : Missy and Katie . Both are remarquable young girls and swimmers . Usa has a rocket shipof leaders with these 2 that can stand for a long time . Great times for swimming
Gold Medal Mel, You’ve outdone yourself yet again! The way way you presented those clips from Terry and Missy’s press conference after NCAA’s made me feel like I was there. I really feel you gave us the measure of Missy here, and one thing is crystal clear: what drives her is emotion! A happy Missy Franklin is a FAST Missy Franklin! Critics can say whatever they want about Terry McKeever and the effect that training with Cal has had on her career, but being there has made her feel like she was surrounded by loving supporters, and that is what Missy NEEDS. I sincerely hope she finds a way to replicate that environment in her training as a pro swimmer… Read more »
All bask in the glow of perfect Franklin. Gee willikers she is gosh darn amazing.
Bad Parent… I confess my negative opinions. I did in the video (and welcome negative opinions in comments). I thought Missy might get rundown in the 200 free at NCAAs….and I was so, so wrong.
Confession: I’ve wondered if Missy was all mask, a perfectly crafted brand. After hours upon hours spent at meets, and hours upon hours reviewing raw video, she’s 100% authentic. I think she’s simply got great parents. Swimming rests on swim parents’ shoulder, and Missy is a confluence of great talent/genes and great parents. She’s real… What you see is what you get……
Missy’s future: I think Missy will be one of swimming’s greatest ambassadors. She’s smart, but not too controlled. She does speak… Read more »
Thanks for your perspective. For her sake, would like to hear more on her reflections on topics that transcend swimming, because I sense that at some point, unicorns and rainbows will stop being cute and might unfairly begin to appear like arrested development.
Why does she have to give her perspective on something that transcends swimming if she doesn’t want to? I suspect she will, but why is that necessary? Does Michael Phelps have amazing things to say outside the sport of swimming? His world view, his plan to solve terrorism and hunger in the world? All that seems to be required of him is that he show up and swim fast. (and not get arrested) Why must she be different? She’s a college sophomore busy with classes, being a world class swimmer, and now planning a pro career. She’s given tons of interviews over the years with no compensation in return. I imagine it’s difficult to come up with original answers to… Read more »
The great thing about your statement is that the answer is just that. Yes, she is that gosh darn amazing . Some people actually are exceptional. Strange but true. Something we average folk have to deal with. She is not obligated to act unhappy, unkind, out of sorts or any other way to satisfy your need to prove to the rest of the world that she really isn’t that great and therefore undeserving of other’s praise.
That seemed to amuse the northman. “I want to live forever in a land where summer lasts a thousand years. I want a castle in the clouds where I can look down over the world. I want to be six-and-twenty again. When I was six-and-twenty I could fight all day and…..
Unicorns are not real….