Missy Franklin, 4-time Olympic gold medalist from the 2012 London Olympics, will be featured in the Reader’s Digest July issue. Issues hit the news stands next week, but if you have a subscription, check your mailbox. You should get it today!
Franklin’s honored as one of the “50 Surprising Reasons We Love America,” even though we’re not surprised in the swimming community. Franklin is one of 50 not-surprising reasons why America’s love with swimming is growing by the week. The effervescent teen is as good in front of the camera as she is behind the blocks, and lit up the cameras at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London where she won four gold and one bronze medal, and was a key leg to the U.S. 400 medley relay that broke the World Record (to go along with one of her own set in the 200 meter backstroke final.)
Not only is Franklin honored as one of the top 50, she’s honored as Number one of the top 50, because “Our Olympians stay in school.” This is a reference to Franklin’s decision to fight the lure of millions to not only swim out her high school season, but to commit to swimming two years in the NCAA at Cal before going pro in time for the 2016 Olympics.
Reader’s Digest will take the sport back to much of the casual Olympic audience, with a circulation of 5.5 million readers.
