Missy Franklin’s Love Of Swimming Hasn’t Changed As Pro Athlete (Video)

Jun 19, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Missy Franklin on deck before the start of the Women's 200M Final of the 200M freestyle at the George F. Haines International Swim Center in Santa Clara, Calif. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Robert Stanton/USA Today Sports Images

Editorial content for the 2015 Arena Pro Swim Series Santa Clara is sponsored by Arena. For full Swimming World coverage, check out our coverage page.

Missy Franklin has been a professional swimmer for three months, and the Santa Clara stop of the Arena Pro Swim Series was her first opportunity to collect prize money for her performances in the pool. She collected $600 in her only competition in this Arena Pro Swim Series, though more awaits later this summer at the world championships.

Earning money and securing a sponsorship with Speedo are great perks for Franklin, but she told members of the media recently during a press conference that she’s still the same person that became a fan favorite many years ago.

“It’s a big transition, but the reason why I’m swimming hasn’t changed, and it never will,” Franklin said.

Franklin made her intentions to turn pro known when she made a verbal commitment to attend the University of California-Berkeley almost three years ago. The plan was to compete collegiately for two seasons, then forgo her remaining two years of eligibility as she looked ahead to the Rio Olympics in 2016.

“I went out to lunch with one of my best friends when I got home (to Colorado), and we were joking that it’s so weird that I’m finally professional,” Franklin said. “In our minds it always feels like it’s two years away. You have an idea what to expect, but you really don’t once it actually happens.”

Franklin has been busy in the past three months, including becoming the Grandmaster of USA Swimming’s SwimJitsu campaign. Though demands on her time were always prevalent when she was an “amateur” athlete, it’s likely grown with her new professional status.

“It’ll be exciting to figure out how to manage all of this stuff, with training and making sure I’m swimming,” she said.

Franklin returned to Colorado to train with her coach Todd Schmitz and get ready for the world championships in Russia this August. But, like many of her caliber, she knows the Olympic Games is not far away.

“This summer is important,” she said. “I’ll still have very high goals for myself, but the big picture is Olympic Trials next summer. Worlds will be a good check-in going into next summer.”

Missy Franklin press conference at Arena Pro Swim Series in Santa Clara

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