• Loading stock data...
Friday, August 15, 2025
Stephen A. Smith vs Clay Travis at Tuned In on September 16 in NYC. Don’t miss it. Buy tickets now!

Missy Franklin Opens Up About Retirement and Life After Swimming

missy-franklin-retirement

Photo via Laureus

At 23, most people are just entering the beginning years of their career. For Missy Franklin, it was supposed to be the beginning of hers too.

The five-time Olympic gold medalist was set to be the heir-apparent to Michael Phelps after she dominated the 2012 London Games, becoming the first woman to win four golds in a single Olympics in any sport.

It wasn’t meant to be.

In 2015, Franklin began to suffer from intense shoulder pain. Diagnosed with severe chronic tendinitis of the rotator cuff and biceps, Franklin underwent surgery on both of her shoulders in January and February 2017.

The road to recovery didn’t go as planned and Franklin was left with two options: Get another surgery and try to rehab again, or stop swimming altogether. She decided on the latter and retired from swimming in December of last year.

READ MORE: Inside Julianne Viani’s Whirlwind of a Broadcasting Career 

While Franklin was disappointed with the outcome, she knew that it was time for her to take on the next challenges in life, something that she is excited about.

“Philanthropy is going to be a huge branch for me,” said Franklin at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco. “I want to do more field work for Laureus; I want to see what different kinds of opportunities pop up.”

One of the opportunities she’s most excited about is being able to do more public speaking. Having been able to speak at a few places while she was swimming, Franklin is planning to take advantage of a schedule that won’t see her in the pool in the middle of January.

“We were in Estonia a couple of weeks ago and I was talking to the Eastern European Coca-Cola team, which I would’ve never been able to do that in the middle of January.”

Unlike other Olympians, Franklin waited to go pro, instead opting to head to the University of California Berkeley in 2013 to swim collegiately. While many observers saw a move that resulted in Franklin missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars, Franklin wasn’t as concerned.

[mc4wp_form id=”8260″]

“I’m sure I missed out on more money, but that was never my intention; that’s never why I was swimming. I was so proud to be with the sponsors that I was with. Looking back on my career, I couldn’t have imagined being partnered with better people and better companies. So even though there’s still this idea that if you don’t go pro early, you’re going to be missing out. I feel like I had the best possible experience, even with waiting.”

It was that waiting, along with the help from her agent Mark Urban, that made sure Franklin wasn’t just in a partnership for an Olympic cycle — she was in it for life.

“I always strived to have authentic partnerships and for us, the goal was to find companies who were looking for the same thing. Mark did a great job of helping them realize like this is going to be a lifelong relationship and not just an Olympic year and then. We wanted partners who wanted to work with us because they loved me and what I stood for and hopefully, we felt the same way.”

READ MORE: Immersive Media’s Infancy Creates Industry Opportunities

In hindsight, she points to the fact that she was thrust into the spotlight at an early age as one of the reasons why she was able to navigate the next six years of her life with patience that paid off in these kinds of deals.

“It was really just the basic day-to-day life changes that were so rattling. Just going to the grocery store and being stopped on every aisle to take pictures. It was a lifestyle change. At 17, and going into my senior year of high school, that was just something that was a big adjustment, but one that taught me a lot of responsibility and I’m really grateful for it.”

As to whether she will go back to swimming anytime soon, she seems pretty content on staying out of the pool for a little bit, but that doesn’t mean it will be forever.

“Ask me again in five or 10 years, but right now I I just want to use my time and energy in other areas.”

For now, it’s time to finish school (she’s set to graduate this fall), get married, and find the next thing on her to-do list.

Knowing Franklin, it will probably be something to do with trying to make the world a better place, one smile at a time.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sofi Stadium

Los Angeles Olympics Will be First to Sell Venue Naming Rights

The decision breaks with a longstanding Olympic policy.
Bridgewater American 12U Little League player Micah Poulter holds a District 7 pin during a send-off rally to the New England regional tournament in Bristol, Connecticut, from Legion Field on Friday, August 2, 2024.

Inside the Little League World Series Pin Trade

The rare little collectibles fuel a frenzy in Williamsport each summer.
Schultz of Israel-Premier Tech

Rice Krispies Treats Are Upending the Billion-Dollar Athlete-Fuel Wars

The world’s most elite athletes are eating like first graders.
Dec 14, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; President Donald Trump wave during the second quarter of the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Army Black Knights at Lincoln Financial Field

‘Political Gold’: Trump Putting His Stamp on College Sports 

Trump has embraced executive action on hot-button college sports issues.

Featured Today

Inked Under Anesthesia: Athletes Getting $50,000 Tattoos

High-end studios, elite artist teams, and hours under anesthesia.
Coco Gauff at New York Liberty
August 2, 2025

How the New York Liberty Became the Hottest Ticket in Town

Once banished to the burbs, the Libs are now Brooklyn’s marquee attraction.
Las Vegas sign
July 29, 2025

College Sports Embracing Vegas After Years of Cold Shoulder

The Big Ten became the latest newcomer to Sin City.
2000, Jupiter, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Montreal Expos pitcher Hideki Irabu in action on the mound against the New York Mets at Roger Dean Stadium during Spring Training
July 28, 2025

Dead Sports Franchises Are Alive and Well on Twitter

The Expos, Sonics, and Whalers have active social media accounts.
August 13, 2025

James Cook Falls Short of $15M Bills Ask, Signs for $12M Annually

The running back was set to make $5.27 million this season.
Sep 30, 2023; Rome, ITALY; Team Europe golfer Rory McIlroy on the 16th green during day two fourballs round for the 44th Ryder Cup golf competition at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.
August 13, 2025

McIlroy Shot Down Playing Captaincy for Future Euro Ryder Cup Team

Team USA captain Keegan Bradley could make this year’s squad.
Sponsored

‘Run With the Competition’: Ultra Trail Runner Lotti Brinks Is Back With..

Ultrarunner Lotti Brinks is ready to make her first Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix podium in her HOKA Mafate 5s.
Aug 10, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Scottie Scheffler chips from the rough on 17th hole during the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship golf.
August 12, 2025

Scheffler Seals Another $5M Bonus Before Penultimate Playoff Event

The golfer has now earned $23 million in bonus money this season.
August 11, 2025

NBA’s Restricted Free Agents Face Cap Squeeze As Season Nears

The Warriors roster is still in flux.
Justin Rose lines up a putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tenn., on August 10, 2025.
August 11, 2025

Justin Rose Pockets $3.6 Million, Becomes Oldest Tour Winner Since 2021

Rose secured a Tour Championship spot for the first time since 2019.
Sep 21, 1970; Cleveland, OH, USA;FILE PHOTO: New York Jets quarterback (12) JOE NAMATH throws a pass against the Cleveland Browns during the first ever Monday Night Football game. Namath was intercepted 3 times in the game. The Browns won the game in front of a record Cleveland football crowd of 85,703 at Cleveland Stadium.
August 11, 2025

‘Time Is a Flat Circle’: How NFL QB Power Has Ebbed and..

Many QBs are firmly in the managerial class.