Missy learned to swim at age 5, and quickly made a splash on the national scene, Franklin competed in her first Olympics in London in 2012, and won four gold medals: one for the 100-meter backstroke, one for the 200-meter backstroke, and a two more as part of the 4-by-200-meter relay and 4-by-100-meter relay teams. Franklin's father nicknamed her "Missy the Missile."