Missy Franklin: Complete Analysis of Her Olympic Performance

When Missy Franklin went to the 2011 World Championships she didn't expect to medal. The 16-year-old, who had missed out on qualifying for the Beijing Games, just wanted to make the team. Well, Franklin not only made the team but she came away with five medals, an incredible feat for someone swimming in their first world championship.

Three days later the three-time world champion participated in and won her first national titles. At this point, she still had braces and was preparing for her driver's test.

A year later, the now 17-year-old Franklin looks much older. Not only are the braces gone but so is the timidity. It has been replaced with confidence and determination, that of a champion. Her trademark smile and enthusiasm hasn't wavered and she is exuding the same bright energy as she always has.

This time instead of the worlds, it is the Olympic Trials. For Franklin, once again it was about just getting a chance to represent the U.S. in the Olympics. Winning medals would just be the cherry on top of the sundae that had become her breakthrough two years.

Considered by many to be the female version of Michael Phelps, Franklin did make the Olympic Team. She will and has been representing the U.S. just fine in London, including winning two medals in two events. She qualified to swim in seven, the most ever by a female.

In her first race of the Olympics, Franklin swam a beautiful relay leg, helping the U.S. land on the medal podium. It was a bronze, but for Franklin, it was her first medal, the first of what looks to be many.

Her next event was one of her best, the 100-meter backstroke. She wasn't the favorite to win, but she was certainly expected to land on the podium. The race began and she was off. She mimicked her relay swim, with a solid and clean leg. It came down to the final seconds, but when the race ended and the swimmers looked at the clock, it was Franklin who just barely edged out favorite Emily Seebohm.

Did I mention that Franklin did this just 10 minutes after qualifying to swim in the 200-meter backstroke final? Not even Phelps did that. His shortest distance between races was close to 20 minutes.

So with two events and two medals down, Franklin is proving that London is in fact her time. The funny thing about it however was that this teen was never out to prove anything. Even as she stood with the gold medal around her next, tears filling in her eyes as the National Anthem played, it was evident that Franklin was humbled.

And maybe that's the way it should be. Maybe Franklin is just too young to have let the hype and popularity get to her. Maybe she is just too focused, too down to earth. Whatever it is, it has been working and there is no reason to suggest that it won't continue to work.

You see, Franklin didn't come into these Olympics with any expectations. Unlike Ryan Lochte, she didn't declare the London Games as her time to shine. She didn't come in expecting to win a gold medal. She came in calm, cool and collected and without pressure just did what she does best: swim.