Missy Franklin Now Training and in School at University of Georgia

missy-franklin-
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Missy Franklin, a five-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist, has relocated from California to Athens, Ga., and she is now training at the University of Georgia. The news was originally reported by the Associated Press, and Georgia head coach Jack Bauerle confirmed the news to Swimming World Thursday evening.

Franklin had been training with Cal men’s coach Dave Durden for the past year but has not competed since the Olympics in Rio, where she flamed out of the semi-finals of both the 200 free and 200 back. She had double shoulder surgery in early 2017 but says that she is now fully healthy.

The report from the Associated Press cites Franklin’s desire to swim with a combined-gender program, like that at Georgia, and also to be closer to both extended family in the peach state and to her former college roommate, who lives in Atlanta.

“I really struggled with that (decision) for a while because I looked at it from a selfish perspective,” Franklin told The Associated Press. “It really isn’t a selfish decision. I started thinking about the road I have ahead of me. I started looking at options, which is really big for me.”

Franklin competed for the Cal women’s team under Teri McKeever from 2013 to 2015 but turned professional after that season. She returned to Colorado that summer to train with high school coach Todd Schmitz and then began training with Durden when she returned to Cal following the 2016 Olympics. Franklin has never swum with Bauerle full-time, but she was familiar with him from National Team trips and Georgia had been the runner-up to Cal in her initial college search.

Even though she is no longer training with Durden, she credited the Cal coach for helping keep her in the pool during a tough time in her life.

“I can truly say I don’t know if I would still be swimming if it wasn’t for Dave Durden,” Franklin said, according to the AP. “He’s one of those coaches that want the best for me.”

Franklin is continuing to pursue her degree in psychology at Georgia, and she is three semesters away from graduating. She told the Associated Press that she is targeting a return to competition, with the focus on this summer’s U.S. Nationals in Irvine, Calif. She may compete at TYR Pro Swim Series events before then.

“I’m kind of coming back from the bottom,” she told the AP. “I could feel pressure because people are expecting a comeback, but I don’t care. I don’t really care what kind of pressure people are putting on me because I can’t control that.”

Read the full Associated Press report here.

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Doug Newman
6 years ago

Zachary Jones

Denisse Chévez Orellana

Luis Rodriguezz

Therese McAdams
6 years ago

BEST of Luck Missy!!

Lynn Spencer Salyers
6 years ago

Yes!

Tammy Arbogast
6 years ago

??????

Jennette Hawk-Gonzalez

Love you Missy, ❤️❤️❤️

Wyatt Fate
6 years ago

No ? body ? cares ?

Tori Fraga
6 years ago
Reply to  Wyatt Fate

Troll

Wyatt Fate
6 years ago
Reply to  Wyatt Fate

Nah

Sabina Hulett Marshall
Reply to  Wyatt Fate

Yes we do

Wyatt Fate
6 years ago
Reply to  Wyatt Fate

Nah you don’t

Hetty Oliver
6 years ago
Reply to  Wyatt Fate

Wyatt Fate if it doesn’t interest you and you don’t care then don’t read it. You’re just making a comment to get a reaction

Charlene Tallen
6 years ago
Reply to  Wyatt Fate

Apparently you do or you would not be reading this and commenting on it.

Lane Four
Lane Four
6 years ago

The dude is a sad and pathetic person who can’t stand the fact that a female could be successful beyond his own meaningless life. Missy is worth millions of dollars with millions of loyal supporters who care about her. So, Wyatt, apparently the only one who doesn’t care is you. Please don’t generalize by saying NO ONE cares. Simply say, “I don’t care.” See? Very easy. Now carry on with your bitter life.

Holly Altschaefl Nennig

Sadie Nennig did you see this

Sadie Nennig
6 years ago

I had no idea!

Veronica Perez
6 years ago

Ashley Hernandez
Van Pac
Valerie Perez

Jennifer Brigman Bennett

Hailey Katherine Bennett

Ann M Cooper
6 years ago

Very cool! It’s a beautiful place U of G and a beautiful state. Good luck Missy and good health!??

J Loucks
J Loucks
6 years ago

Toast………

Luis Rodriguez
6 years ago

???

Charity Adams-McCafferty

Caileigh McCafferty

Dave Hoover
6 years ago

Meems Hoover

Noria Gaier
6 years ago

Be happy ????

Hetty Oliver
6 years ago

Very good move, you can do it

My Beach Things
6 years ago

Unbelievable :p

Ibolya Garai
6 years ago

Doppingos

Jonna Waller
6 years ago

Leon Chien

Christopher Staka
6 years ago

Kyle Maas

Rhiannon Rae
6 years ago

Maddie Wallis ???

Nicki Klein-Richter
6 years ago

Abby Richter

Kristi Rogers Marley
6 years ago

Megan Frese

Leon Chien
6 years ago

Georgia is lucky to have ya. Good luck Missy Franklin

Cheryl Zwijacz
6 years ago

Glad her knee has recovered

Julie Cordova
6 years ago

Go where your heart is…….Missy we are with you.

Val Acosta Mehta
6 years ago

How exciting for Missy and UGA.

David Blum
6 years ago

Great program to get her back on track!!

Isabel Cruz
6 years ago

Elisa Navarro Cruz

Brian Mullies
6 years ago

Swimmers are the best. Ms Franklin is the best.

Ann N Jon Dommisse
6 years ago

Sadie Nennig

Toni Price
Toni Price
6 years ago

My daughter is ninth grade on the swim team she having a hard time not wanting to kick her feet any suggestions

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