Missy Franklin Johnson And Husband Hayes Johnson Announce The Birth Of Their Second Child

When Missy Franklin (now Missy Franklin Johnson) decided to retire back in 2018, she said: “I began to realize that my greatest dream in life, more so than Olympic gold, has always been becoming a mom.” That dream became a reality on August 11, 2021, when she gave birth to her first child, Sarah Caitlin Johnson.

On March 19th, Missy and her husband Hayes welcomed a new member to their family with the birth of their second child, a baby girl named Chase Campbell Johnson.

See the joint Instagram post below:

Franklin Johnson is widely regarded as one of the top American female swimmers of all time. She was the star of the 2012 London Olympics, where she swept the individual backstroke events, setting a world record in the 200 that stood for seven years. She also claimed gold in the 400 medley relay and 800 freestyle relay, and helped the U.S. win bronze in the 400 freestyle relay. In addition to those four gold medals and one bronze, she finished 4th in the individual 200 freestyle and 5th in the 100 freestyle. She was just 17 years old at those Olympic Games.

She also competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she secured another gold medal from her performance in the prelims of the 800 freestyle relay. By the time she retired in 2018, she had amassed six Olympic medals, five of them gold. In addition, she earned 16 World Championship medals across three competitions (2011, 2013, and 2015), with 11 of those being gold.

Franklin Johnson attended Cal during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, where she had one of the greatest NCAA careers of all time, despite competing collegiately for just two seasons. In her sophomore year, Franklin won all three of her individual events: the 200 IM, 200 free, and 200 back. Her 200 free performance is still regarded as one of the greatest in NCAA history, as she shattered the 1:40 barrier with a time of 1:39.10, a record that still stands today.

Since retiring in December 2018, Franklin Johnson has worked with the USA Swimming Foundation as an ambassador, advocated for mental health awareness, and volunteered with several organizations related to swimming and kidney disease after her father required a kidney transplant. 

Hayes Johnson swam collegiately for Texas, racing for the team at NCAA Championships in both 2009 and 2010. Johnson’s top national ranking came in his freshman year when he finished 20th in the 200 backstroke at NCAAs with a 1:42.18. Johnson raced at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Trials, along with the 2009 World Championships trials.

Prior to his collegiate career, Johnson raced at the 2008 FINA World Junior Championships where he just missed the 200 backstroke podium, clocking a time of 2:01.18 for 4th.