Anyone who wants to beat Missy Franklin in the pool needs to put in a lot of training hours \u2013 or have some major handicaps. That was the case on the new TV show \u201cBeat the Champions,\u201d which aired Tuesday on the Fox television network. <\/p>\n
According to the show, journalist Arielle Raycene was a competitive swimmer in Kansas who turned to cheerleading in high school. She wanted to rely on her previous swimming experience to take down a four-time Olympic gold medalist in the three rounds of competition.<\/p>\n
In the first round, Raycene and Franklin swam 100 meters, with Raycene getting a 25-meter lead. Franklin won by about five seconds, while Raycene clutched the wall at the finish and gasped for air.<\/p>\n
For the second round, Franklin was wrapped in cellophane around her legs, preventing her from using that strong kick that has helped her motor past her competition. Franklin had no problem with the 50-meter swim, especially given that Raycene did not get a head start.<\/p>\n
In the final round, Franklin experienced the torment that most elite swimmers face daily. She towed five large water jugs as a bit of resistance racing. Also hindering her progress was a fireman spraying water at her to offer a bit of resistance. Raycene\u2019s advantage was a current of water pushing her down the pool by another fireman\u2019s hose. Raycene finally got the better of Franklin, winning by a body length.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I just found a new way to train,\u201d Franklin said. \u201cI think I\u2019m going to take these (jugs) back to Colorado.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raycene won $25,000 for beating Franklin in the final round. \u201cI always wanted to go to the Olympics,\u201d an emotional Raycene said. \u201cI felt like I won my little Olympics.\u201d<\/p>\n
Franklin isn\u2019t the first Olympic swimming champion to be challenged to a swimming race and answer that challenge on national television. Michael Phelps raced basketball star Shaquille O\u2019Neal in a series of races in a 2009 special on ABC called \u201cShaq Vs.\u201d Phelps, for example, tried to complete 75 yards before O\u2019Neal could finish 50 yards and tried to complete a 200 individual medley against a 200 medley relay that included O\u2019Neal, Rebecca Soni, Ariana Kukors and Dana Vollmer.<\/p>\n
Former basketball star Scottie Pippen and New England Patriots player Rob Gronkowski also took part in challenges on the show. Former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Finesse Mitchell served as host.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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