17 Year-Old Phenom Missy Franklin Takes Gold
By Giles Malone // July 30, 2012
LIVE REPORT FROM THE 30th Olympiad
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EDITOR’S NOTE: SpaceCoastDaily.com’s Giles Malone, a native of England and 30-year resident of Brevard County, is in London covering the Olympic Games. He is providing his unique perspective of the games, and his native country, as he travels to the various venues to report back to the Space Coast on all the glamour and excitement of the 30th Olympic Games.
THE OLYMPIC GAMES • LONDON, ENGLAND – There is a beautiful night sky in the east end of London this evening at the London Olympic Aquatic Center, and it has been a very good day for TEAM USA swimming.
Team USA’s 17 year-old phenom Missy Franklin from Colorado won Gold in the Womens 100 Meter Backstroke Final.
Remarkably, Franklin had to swim just 20 minutes earlier and paced herself perfectly, saving herself well for the all important final, winning the Gold brilliantly with a time of 58.33 seconds.
When asked in the press conference about the recent tragedies in Colorado, the very poised 17 year-old answered simply, “I want to make my state proud.”
Allison Schmidt finished second in the first semi final and qualified for the Womens 200 Meter Freestyle Final tomorrow evening.
The French continue to have a very impressive showing in the pool as Agnel from France won Gold in the Mens 200 Meter Freestyle Final with USA’s Ryan Lochte finishing a disappointing fourth.
Team USA’s 17 year-old phenom Missy Franklin from Colorado won Gold in the Womens 100 Meter Backstroke Final. Remarkably, Franklin had to swim just 20 minutes earlier and paced herself perfectly, saving herself well for the all important final, winning the Gold brilliantly with a time of 58.33 seconds. When asked in the press conference about the recent tragedies in Colorado, the very poised 17 year-old answered simply, “I want to make my state proud.”
USA struck Gold and Silver in the Mens 100 Meter Backstroke Final with the colossal 6′-8″ Matt Greevers winning Gold with a new Olympic Record of 52:16 seconds.
USA’s Nick Thoman grabbed silver and completed the dominance for TEAM USA.
In the Womens 100 Meter Breaststroke the beeper to start the race controversially broke, sending USA’s Breeja Larson into the pool early. As it was an Olympic equipment mal-function, Larson received no penalty.
Larson composed herself and won a very commendable Silver Medal in the race, narrowly beaten by the 15 year-old sensation Ruta Meilutyte from Lithuania
USA’s Tyler Clary finished fourth in the Mens 200 Meter Butterfly, but Michael Phelps looked very strong finishing first in his heat with a time of 1:54:53.
This (butterfly) is a special race for me as it was the first U.S Olympic team that I qualified for 12 years ago,” said Phelps.
“I really want to do well tomorrow (in the final). These shorter races are better for me than the longer ones.”
Stay tuned to SpaceCoastDaily.com for further updates from across the “pond.”
– GILES MALONE
SPACECOASTDAILY.COM – FOR ALL YOUR SPACE COAST NEWS
