by Dan Bailey (@DBailey5280)
Six-time Olympic gold medalist and Colorado native Amy Van Dyken joined Eric Goodman and Les Shapiro of Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 to discuss fellow Olympic champion Missy Franklin’s retirement.
“She has done it for so many years, and the way that she trains puts so much stress on those shoulders. It’s heartbreaking, but sadly, a lot of careers are ended through shoulders,” Van Dyken said.
Franklin won four gold medals in the 2012 Olympics and added her fifth in 2016.
“Here’s what’s really cool that I love — you know, we both came from the same area, and she was the first person to tie my record of the four golds in one games,” Van Dyken said.
In 2008, Franklin’s uncle e-mailed Van Dyken, requesting a letter of encouragement for his niece, who was destined for the Olympics. “And for some reason, I was like, ‘you know what, I will.’ And I did,” she explained. “And from my understanding, what [Franklin’s] told people — and what she’s told me — is that she still carries that with her to every single swim meet.”
Their relationship continues to this day.
“It is kind of nice to be able to do that to somebody, to help them out and to lead them down a path, or, you know, just have another ear to listen to. So I was really thankful that she would ask me those questions.”
Van Dyken said that she also enjoys watching other Colorado homegrown athletes, such as Kyle Freeland and Phillip Lindsay. “It’s so fun; every football game they talk about Lindsay, and how he always wanted to be a Denver Bronco.”
Lindsay and Franklin both trained with Loren Landow, the Denver Broncos’ strength and conditioning coach. And both established mentors who they saw achieve success in Colorado.
“It just shows people that we’re more than just a winter sports state.”
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