OMAHA — Missy Franklin made a statement in her best and favorite event Friday, posting the fastest time of the 200-meter backstroke preliminary heats.
The semifinals will be held Friday night and finals Saturday night. Franklin will race only the 200 back Friday night because she failed to qualify for the 100-meter freestyle finals.
“Felt great, it felt awesome,” Franklin said after finishing in 2:09.69. “I was really excited for that this morning. I think it was a little bit of a blessing in disguise that I didn’t make that 100 free final tonight, being able to come into this next day and a half with just this focus.”
Franklin set a world record in the 200 back at the 2012 Olympics that still stands. She made the Olympic team Wednesday in the 200 free but felt short of making the team in the 100 back on Tuesday.
“Itap been a little harder for me to call on my speed this week, but my endurance has felt awesome,” Franklin said. “I felt really strong and controlled. I think tonight will be really fun.”
She also likes the fact that her deficiencies in starts and turns, which cost her in the 100 back, are less of a factor in the 200 back.
“I actually think four laps of backstroke is 10 times easier than two,” Franklin said.
Assuming she swims to form the next two days, she will race the 200 free, 200 back and a freestyle relay in Rio. She’s adjusting to a diminished role by looking on the bright side.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Franklin said. “It might be really nice to go do an Olympics and actually enjoy the experience instead of swimming so much. I haven’t sat in the stands at an international competition since 2011, so thinking that I might actually have that opportunity is also very exciting, despite the disappointments.”
