Missy Franklin is a contender for the 2012 London Olympics. But on Saturday, the emerging national star was back to just being a regular high school swimmer for Regis Jesuit.
Photo by Ray Chen
For
Missy Franklin, Saturday wasn't about being an international swimming star or world records or the upcoming Olympics.
No, it simply was about being Missy Franklin, a 16-year-old junior at
Regis Jesuit (Aurora, Colo.), and getting the opportunity to compete again with her Raiders teammates.
The national star returned to prep competition against rival
Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.), and she couldn't have been happier. She wore a huge smile throughout the meet, animatedly cheered teammates and traded hugs with competitors after every event.
After the final team scores were announced – Regis held off a late Cherry Creek charge to win 163-152 – Franklin enthusiastically celebrated with her teammates in the center of the pool.
Franklin embraced the opportunity tocheer for her teammates and tocongratulate Cherry Creek opponents,things unique to prep swimming.
Photo by Ray Chen
"The most important thing for swimming high school for me is keeping it fun. When you go to some of these big meets it can get really serious and the pressure can really get to you sometimes," Franklin said. "Here you can come have fun, just let everything go and get out and just swim and do what you love. That's so special."
The 6-foot-1 Franklin won two individual events Saturday – setting pool records in the process – and led her team to a relay win as the two best teams in Colorado staged a competitive dual at the Regis swim bubble before a capacity crowd.
Interest in the event, which included a throng of local TV cameras, required Regis to set up an overflow room in the school library where the meet was simulcast.
Franklin swam the first leg of the meet's first race in leading her team to victory in the 200-yard medley relay before setting pool records in the 200 freestyle (1 minute, 51 seconds) and the 100 backstroke (54.54). In her fourth event – the 400 freestyle relay – the Raiders finished second.
