June 24, 2012|By Jean Marbella
“I think the expectations are definitely higher, and that does make it a little bit more difficult,” she said. “But the expectations from the people who really matter most to me — my coach, my family and friends — are all just for me to go out there and have fun. Those are the expectations I want to live up to, the people I love and care about.”
Having just finished her junior year in high school, college coaches who are no doubt itching to recruit her are instead giving her space to focus on the trials and Olympics instead, she said.
Scouting Franklin
Two coaches who likely wouldn't mind having Franklin on their college teams will be heading the men's and women's Olympic squads: Greg Troy of Florida and Teri McKeever of California.
On Sunday, they talked about how carefully they wanted to shepherd the young talent's career, anticipating it could span multiple Olympics.
“If we do things right, Missy is going to be a figure like a Ryan or a Natalie [Coughlin] or a Michael,” McKeever, who coaches Coughlin, said.
Troy, who is also Lochte's coach, agreed.
“She's got a tremendous future, a great, bright young star. We're very cognizant she is a young lady and she's got a long way to go,” he said. “I think we put too much pressure on people too young to be something other than what they are. She has some of the same characteristics you see in Ryan, Michael and Natalie. She's a great racer.”
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