OMAHA, Neb.| Missy Franklin will have four individual races in London after capping her week with a dominating win in the 200 backstroke. She’s expected to swim all three relays, as well, setting her up to become the first U.S. woman to swim seven events in a single games.
“I can’t believe I have seven events,” said the 17-year-old Franklin, a Colorado Stars swimmer who is a senior-to-be at Aurora’s Regis Jesuit High School. “It’s so overwhelming but so exciting. The whole week went really, really well.”
Franklin blew away the field in the 200 back with a time of 2:06.12, fastest in the world this year and nearly 1 1/2 seconds ahead of runner-up Elizabeth Beisel, who secured the second spot in London at 2:07.58.
Franklin had already earned spots in the 100 and 200 freestyle and 100 back, but the 200 back is her best event. She’s the defending world champion and heads to London as the overwhelming favorite in that race.
“She’s the best in the world for a reason. She can beat all of us pretty handily,” Beisel said.
