BARCELONA, SPAIN — — Missy Franklin of Centennial won her first gold medal of this year’s World Swimming Championships Sunday night when she swam leadoff on the United States’ winning 4 x 100 freestyle relay team.
The U.S. clocked 3:32.31 to defeat Australia which finished second in 3:32.43.
Franklin, 18, swam a 53.51 lead leg, putting the U.S. second behind Australia for which Cate Campbell swam 52.33. The U.S. remained in second place going into the final leg but Megan Romano tracked down Alicia Coutts to win it for the U.S.
It was the fourth World Championships gold medal for Franklin after she won a silver in the 4 x 100 relay two years ago in Shanghai.
Monday the Colorado Stars member swims the 100 backstroke where she’s the Olympic champion.
