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Franklin set records on her way to four golds and a bronze
medal at her first Games, but the 21-year-old qualified in just
two individual events -- the 200 meters freestyle and 200
backstroke -- at the trials in Omaha.
That did not include the 100 meter backstroke, one of her
Olympic titles.
Despite that, she is still smiling.
"I've felt for the past several months that I am in the best
shape I have ever been in," Franklin told a news conference on
Wednesday.
"I think trials was just a very different experience for me and
I think I wasn't really prepared for the emotional aspect of
it...coming in this year I think I felt the pressure a lot more
than I ever have before.
"I've normally been able to handle that really well and that was
something that I really struggled with at trials," she added.
With that ordeal over, and many swimmers have commented over the
years how the process is every bit as pressured as an Olympic
final, Franklin said she had a fresh surge of confidence.
"I still have that power, I still have those guts that I really
believe I've had my whole career," she said.
"With a lot of that pressure gone, and with a better mental
mindset coming in here ... I won't only have all that endurance
that I built up but also the heart and guts to go on top of
that. I think that's a pretty killer combination."
Katie Ledecky won the 200 freestyle at the trials and looks set
to be the talk of the women's team this time around with a
possible individual golden triple as well as relays.
Franklin was gushing in her praise for the 19-year-old, who won
800m freestyle gold in London and has since made herself
unbeatable over the distance.
"It's been such an honor to watch her," she said. "I think she's
capable of unbelievable things, doing things that no-one in this
world has ever seen before.
"To be able to tell my kids one day or tell stories that 'hey, I
was there when Katie Ledecky did this'. That is so cool for me
... hopefully I can push her the way she's pushed me similar to
how we talk about Australia pushing the U.S."
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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