London Olympics: Missy Franklin breaks record, wins 200-meter backstroke
LONDON -- Seventeen-year-old American Missy Franklin broke the world record in the 200-meter backstroke to claim the gold medal in 2 minutes 4.06 seconds at the London Olympics on Friday at the Aquatics Center.
Her Olympic debut has resulted in three gold medals, including a sweep of the backstroke events. The third gold came in the 800-meter freestyle relay.
Teammate Elizabeth Beisel won the bronze in the 200-meter backstroke.
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“Oh my gosh, I am so happy,” Franklin said on the pool deck in an interview with the BBC. “I’ve dreamed about this moment my whole life. I’ve been definitely working so hard on my backstroke in practice. I’m so happy I could come out here and get the result I did.”
She is swimming for her hometown of Aurora, Colo.
“I dedicate every single thing I’ve done here to them,” Franklin said.
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