Olympian and teen sensation Missy Franklin is still just a kid competing in high school and for her final meet of her young athletic career, the crowds are coming in droves.
According to the Associated Press, Franklin's final meet is proving to be a tough ticket for spectators and the meet is totally sold out. Franklin is expected to compete in the 200-yard individual medley and 500 free, along with perhaps two more relay events at the Class 5A state championships in Fort Collins, Colo.
Franklin, who won four Olympic medals in London, will be competing for the last time in high school. According to the report, Colorado High School Activities Association allocated roughly 90 percent of the nearly 990 available tickets to schools so that all parents of qualified swimmers had a chance to see their kids swim.
After Franklin finishes her high school career she will attend the University of California at Berkeley where she will also compete. Franklin almost decided not to swim the season after some reports and criticism came out from others that her star status took away from other swimmers, but instead she decided to stay and compete.
"I think most people are pleased that she is completing her high school career with the team she started with," said Bert Borgmann, the assistant commissioner of CHSAA. "Most look at this unique situation as a positive experience for the competitors. It's hard for some folks to remember that Missy is a 17-year-old who wants to do the same things that her friends do and be part of the team and have fun doing it."
"Just because a swimmer competes in the Olympics doesn't mean that she has left childhood and high school behind."
Franklin wanted the chance to spend time with her friends and finish her young amateur career off right.
"It would be a real shame for her not to be able to finish it out, to see it to the end," her father, Richard Franklin, recently said. "We like to think that as children grow up, you want them to finish things, to stay committed, to meet their obligations. That's what she's doing."
Franklin is likely to win her events, perhaps in record time. She has set records in the state for the 100 and 200 free events in last year's competition and two years ago she broke records in the 50 free, 100 back and as a member of the 400 free relay.
"To be a part of it, I'm so happy," said Franklin, who recently won four events at the Austin Grand Prix on the University of Texas campus.
Following the London Games, where she took home five total medals and set a new mark in the 200-meter backstroke, Franklin went on the star tour, heading to late night television and more, including a cameo in a Hollywood film.
"That 17 or 18 years goes by in a flash," Richard Franklin said after attending his daughter's final home dual meet last month. "The decision to stay amateur, swim high school, go to college, it's all good. It's all really good."
ric Craven, the coach of rival Cherry Creek, couldn't agree more.
"Look at it this way: LeBron James was the No. 1 pick in the NBA, right? Well, I'm sure there were people complaining about that. They're like, 'Why is LeBron playing basketball in high school?"' Craven said. "Because he wanted to represent his school, wanted to be with his teammates, wanted to represent (his state). It's the same thing Missy is going through. She wants to represent the school. This is a good thing."