Editorial content for the 2015 Arena Pro Swim Series Santa Clara is sponsored by Arena. For full Swimming World coverage, check out our coverage page.
It’s been nearly three months since Missy Franklin competed in a swim meet, but now she’s ready to race at the Arena Pro Swim Series in Santa Clara. Franklin met with journalists before the start of the meet, and talked about expectations she has for this meet.
“I’m just excited to see everyone again,” Franklin said while flashing her ever-present smile. “It’s such a great tuneup to get back into my races and take what I’ve learned here and go back and really work on that stuff in the next three weeks, because worlds is going to be here so fast.”
This weekend’s meet will mark Franklin’s only long course competition before the world championships, where she’ll look to replicate her amazing accomplishments from the 2013 worlds. She became the first woman to win six gold medals in one world championships, and could do it again in Kazan this August.
Franklin will race the 100 and 200 freestyles as well as all three backstroke races in Santa Clara.
“Going into Kazan I’ll have the least amount of long course racing preparation,” Franklin said. “I’ve swam all of these races quite a few times, and I think I’ll know what to do once I get up there. I’ve been to worlds before, so I know what that environment is like. To be a great athlete you need to be able to adapt to situations, so when the time comes, I’ll be ready.”
Missy Franklin speaks to the press at the Arena Pro Swim Series – Santa Clara