Missy Franklin: 17-Year-Old Swimmer Will Be Breakout Star in London

Most 17-year-old kids are taking the summer to prepare for their final year of high school, but not Missy Franklin. She's been preparing for her Olympic debut at London 2012.

Franklin's age alone would have garnered her media recognition in this year's Summer Olympics, but she isn't just any 17-year-old.

She's a legitimate contender for medal recognition. 

In the swimming pool, age is definitely just a number. Franklin proves that. She has the potential to reach iconic status as an Olympic athlete. I'm talking Michael Phelps or Natalie Coughlin good here.

Franklin qualified for the Olympics in four events at the U.S. Olympic Trials. She took first in the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke and second in the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle. In short she took the swimming world by storm. We knew how good she could be, but who could have anticipated a 17-year-old phenom showing up and dominating the competition?

She's already put the swimming world on notice. Now it's time for Franklin to prove she's got what it takes to perform on the world's biggest stage.

If the trials are any indicator (and why wouldn't they be?), Franklin will be one of the top competitors in every event in which she participates.

As noted in her usaswimming.org athlete profile, Franklin's rise to prominence actually began last year. She took five medals at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships, three of which were golds. Franklin isn't completely inexperienced in major events, and her winnings last year will benefit her in London.

Franklin has "breakout athlete" written all over her. No, not literally. That would be weird, but she does have the necessary ingredients to make a dynamite run up the Olympic ladder this summer.

This is her first Olympic games. It will set the tone for the rest of her swimming career. Don't expect this 17-year-old prodigy to take that lightly.

Franklin will turn in an epic four-event performance in London's Olympic games.