Five-time Olympic gold medalist, Missy Franklin, was featured in People Magazine where she was quoted:
“…my shoulders are in so much pain that I can maybe hop in the pool and swim easy for 20, 30 minutes, but that’s about as much as my old broken shoulders can handle at this point.”
SwimSwam picked up the story and ran a report. The deluge of traffic made me worry the site might crash. It didn’t, but I couldn’t figure out what the fuss was all about. Missy’s shoulder problems was old news, and, frankly, not a big surprise. Elites with long careers often experience some level of shoulder issue they have to manage in retirement. Anyway, Missy was scheduled to come on the podcast for another topic, and I asked her to put the whole situation in her own words–which she did.
Missy catches us up on her life and her mission now, which is to support pools reopening safely. Specifically, as a USA Swimming Foundation Ambassador, Missy advocates the safe reopening of learn to swim programs. A lot of parents are concerned about taking their kids to lessons to learn how to swim, and it is important to be armed with the right information about how to gain this lifesaving skills during the pandemic. For more information go here.
Follow Missy Franklin on Instagram here.
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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
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The question that still hasn’t been answered though…Is she really always that happy?!
Yes, she did. I asked her about it.
I should’ve inserted a JK at the end….that’s on me. I, for one, appreciate her bubbly spirit.
hahahaha…agreed…
I love the shout out to her parents for doing a great job…they are both Canadian – known for being friendly and happy
I think the reason that “cant really swim anymore because of bad shoulders” is such big news is because she was a great swimmet and we all want to beleive that doesn’t go away. Same with Thorpe who apparently can’t swim crawl anymore due to the severe sholder surgery complications he had. It says something about the human condition.
Both of them could just kick and probably still set masters records.
to me its more her young age that is likely shocking everyone. There are many athletes who have done the work and put strain on their shoulders that are able to keep swimming at a high level, and if not competing at least training consistently for 1-2 hour sessions. While agree many have shoulder issues to manage, this seems and extreme situation.
I think Thorpe said he got a nasty infection and ended up with the a shoulder replacement…how sad to think that perfect stroke is gone forever…
Those were scarey times . There were reports he may have had significant arm involvement . Traumatic but lucky the infection travelled that direction than to the brain .
Take care of your body properly and it won’t happen. I’ve been swimming for years and never have had a shoulder problem.
this is like the 85 year old smoker who says “smoking doesn’t give you cancer, look at me!”
everyone’s body is different.
Sounds like you haven’t been working hard enough…
Went best times every year throughout college swimming!
We look forward to your multiple Olympic and World golds. Then we can do a fair comparison.
hardooooo
dude….that was cold… (but I try to drop the “maybe you haven’t been working hard enough” whenever and wherever I can…
We’re you swimming at a world class level, and training accordingly, from 15 onwards? If not, I don’t think this is really comparable.
Collegiate level so, close. They have high class trainers at cal right?
20 bucks this guy was either a walk on at a small d3 college. Or on a college club team where they coach themselves
Division 2 and not a club team!:)
So not even close in reality
The smugness is what is bothersome. You can hear the gleeful laugh with every single reply back.
I see below you were at Div 2 and above that you set PBs each year. Two things:
1) I think we can safely assume that for you bettering your high school PB wouldn’t require you to re-set a World Record.
2) Div 2, whilst a high standard and hard work, is not comparable to a mid-tier power 5 team. It’s not remotely comparable to an elite program like Cal and it’s a different planet to targeting the Olympics within an elite program like Cal.
https://swimswam.com/a-man-among-gods-d3-swimmer-training-with-a-d1-team/
Took care of my body, did everything right, swam at a very high level and still ended up with lifelong shoulder problems (distance swimmer). Your experience does not reflect others.
… my shoulders and the muscles around them got jacked by the time I was 28. In retirement, that mass shrank, but the ligaments remain stretched out from years of training. So, I have shoulder problems, and I lift just to keep the muscles built-up, holding my shoulders in place (stabilized). Depending on the doctor you talk to, some say get surgery, others recommend keeping my shoulders fit and balanced. And…I hear the same story from a lot of swimming peers. (I wonder if never stopping would’ve been better to keep my shoulders stabilized. When I swim at least 2.5-3k 4-5 times per week, my shoulders feel the best.)
Well, your signature event was the 2 Fly, right? That has got to be hell on your shoulders…. Glad you are taking care of them.
Mel do you have trouble with lifting things over your shoulders, or doing things that involve reaching?
I don’t really have shoulder problems but if I have to lift something more then 15 pounds over my head my left shoulder wont hold it for too long. Also when I do household tasks like cleaning the ceiling fans, changing filters around the house, and putting up Christmas lights, the next morning I wake up and feel like I swam a straight 5K.
There was an article where Phelps said that was one of his reasons for not wanting to swim past Rio.
Consider yourself lucky
Back to the bathtub grandpa
I love this one! Swim at the National or even college level and still say the same thing? When you swim 10,000 in a practice over and over please let me know and others how nothing happens. Unless you are 1 in a million you will get some shoulder issues along the way…or elbow issues. It can be the price you pay for swimming miles and miles…Tom Jager was a sprinter and he has them….
Unfortunately, shoulder problems persist for many former swimmers – as I approach age 70, I still experience the same shoulder pain that first developed as a high school swimmer – some days I cannot lift one arm above shoulder level. An orthopedist still have no cure.
I loe swiming but coid 19 offfffff
fun fact: the number of likes on your comment = your age
Is this the correct video that was supposed to accompany this story? It seems to be from around 2017, and very outdated in terms of her current swimming status.
YOU’RE RIGHT! I am so, so sorry. Thankfully Coleman caught it (bc of your comment) and updated with the right video. Thanks for the heads up!
Dislike all you want, just spitting facts. The more you take care of your body and focus on technique, less shoulder problems! It’s not rocket science.
Agree! I have coached for 40+yrs with an MS Ex Phys at all levels (summer league to college), including Olympians. Not one single shoulder issue in now hundreds of athletes. Technique, technique, technique…and proper strength work to maintain proper muscle balance.
Totally. If only these Olympians and world-class athletes worked more on technique and strength work…
Pfft!!!
Thank you
You were slow stop talking
Lol!
…I voted you up – your one up vote (bc I am ashamed of my ugly freestyle and I’m sure that’s why I suffer now)
On the other hand, Thorpe had the smoothest looking free style and needed shoulder replacement…
Thorpes was related to a car crash I think. Not saying the thousands of meters crawl didn’t contribute.
Thorpe got a nasty infection I think post-op…thats what lead to the replacement…
LOL not saying mine is pretty, but it doesn’t hurt.
If Missy would have gone to Indiana University to swim for The GOAT, Ray Looze, she would not have ever had shoulder problems and would be winning championships and medals and breaking records right now. #goatcoachraylooze, #iunumber1, #iuwillwinthebigteninfootball
Guerra… you know folks are going to pounce on you for that comment (and Ray was my old Nat Team teammate…love the guy), but….really?
Mel, you must be new here ;-).
Mel, Did you show respect and call Ray “The GOAT” when he was your teammate?
Guerra strikes again… I bet he voted Ray for president
No. For selfish reasons, I want the Indiana AD, Fred Glass, to hire Ray as the basketball coach. Then we would always beat Michigan, OSU, Purdue, Wisconsin and all the others in basketball just like we do already in swimming. I’m hoping to get a meeting with Fred next week. #rayloozegoatcoach, #iunumber1, #hoosierfootballwillwinthebigten2020