Missy Franklin is an American swimmer born on May 10, 1995, in Pasadena, California. She gained fame for her exceptional talent in the pool, particularly in the backstroke events. Franklin made her Olympic debut at the 2012 London Games, where she won four gold medals and one bronze, becoming a household name in the sport. In addition to her Olympic success, Franklin has set multiple world records and won numerous medals at the FINA World Championships. She attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she continued to excel in swimming before retiring from competitive swimming in 2018.