Missy Franklin: Back, Better and Happier Than Ever

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Photo Courtesy: Annie Grevers

At the end of March, six-time Olympic Medalist Missy Franklin announced her double-shoulder surgery and indefinite break from competition. After being diagnosed with bursitis in January, Franklin got the necessary surgeries and began the recovery process.

Now, the energetic, bubbly teenager from the 2012 Olympics is back in the water – and perhaps with more of this happy energy than ever.

“It’s been great going to practice, not to train for an event, but just because I want to be there,” Franklin said. “That’s something really special that I haven’t experienced in quite a while.”

Franklin has been public with her return to the pool, returning once more to the Cal men’s team under the direction of Dave Durden. And following this new mindset in natural Missy Franklin form, the gold medalist is taking each opportunity as a fun experience:

Nothing is more humbling than doing a backstroke set sandwiched between @ryan_f_murphy and @Jacob_Pebley #theyrefast #incaseyoudidntknow

— Missy Franklin (@missyfranklin) May 10, 2017

“I’ll always love swimming but what it means changes with you as you grow,” Franklin said. As for her return to competition, Franklin said this will be determined on her own terms.

“When I return competitively it’s going to be for me and no one else,” she said. “It’s hard when you get to a certain level because other people start putting their goals and aspirations on you. But I have an incredible situation right now, and when it’s time I’ll sit down and go over what I want to accomplish and what it’s going to take.”

In the meantime, she has spent her time working with the USA Swimming Foundation among other charities.

The kids had a blast at the LA Expo Center with Olympian & @SwimFoundation Ambassador @missyfranklin! pic.twitter.com/t91ldB2n7k

— USA Swimming Foundation (@SwimFoundation) May 24, 2017

She is also working on bettering herself out of the pool, as she described 22 as the age where young adults discover who they are and who they want to be. Back in the pool, with two better and recovering shoulders, Missy Franklin has found her happiness in the water once again.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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