Missy Franklin didn’t expect a thing.
In fact, last Friday, she almost didn’t come to school.
“It was the assembly for the senior gift giveaway,” Franklin said. “I had absolutely no idea that anything was going to happen. I was even thinking about not going to school that day — so my best friend and my mom had devised this whole plan to make sure that I was at school.”
But the Olympic hopeful was in for quite a surprise.
First, she was called up to the front of the assembly, bringing raucous cheers from her classmates.
Then came the big one — Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker entered the room to wish the swimmer luck.
“I had to be here,” Decker told the crowd. “On behalf of the Denver Broncos, I came here to wish her the best of luck this summer, and you better bring back that gold for us. Good luck!”
If the cheers were loud before, they were deafening when Decker arrived.
“I was so shocked,” Franklin said, mentioning that she had met Decker once before at the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame banquet. “As soon as they said his name, all of the girls just went crazy. Eric Decker in a room with 1,000 teenage girls? It just doesn’t get louder than that. I was so excited to see him. I was so happy he was there. And that was honestly one of the nicest things that anyone has done for me. For him to come and take his time right before he had a flight, to come and just say a few words, it meant the world to me.”
Franklin, who is a “huge Broncos fan,” said Decker’s presence even caused a few classmates to bend school rules a bit.
“It’s really funny, my mom was laughing because technically at school our phones are supposed to be in our lockers,” she said. “But she said as soon as he walked in, 500 phones just snapped up to take pictures and video.
“It was great.”
MORE FROM MISSY
Franklin first set her sights on the Olympics when she was just 12 years old.
“I qualified for Olympic trials when I was 12 years old, and I swam there when I was 13,” she explained. “That was for the 2008 Olympic trials. I knew I wasn’t going to make it then because I was so young, but it was still so exciting for me and I loved it so much. I remember I was driving home from Omaha just thinking, ‘Four years from now I want to be back here and I really want to have a good chance at making this team.’ So to come back four years later and have that happen would just be incredible.”
Trials for the 2012 games run from June 25 to July 2 in Omaha, Neb.
But she said her dream truly became a realistic goal either last summer or the summer before.
“The summer before I had nationals and I competed at the Pan Pacific Championships,” Franklin said. “That was a huge eye-opener for me. Then last summer with World Championships really got me on the international scene, I saw how much I loved it and how much fun we had. I think that’s when I really realized that, you know what, London could be really realistic for me, and it’s something that if I keep working really hard for it’s something that I could possibly achieve.”
Franklin said she tries not to think too far ahead, so she hasn’t gotten nervous about potentially swimming in the Olympics quite yet.
She said she tries to live one day at a time, but that hasn’t stopped her from getting excited about London.
“My goal is honestly just to keep the pressure off of myself, go out there and have fun and know that I’m ready.”
In the meantime, the lifelong Broncos fan said Decker’s surprise visit got the swimmer even more excited about Denver’s upcoming season.
“I’ve always been a Broncos fan, but I’ve always been a Colts fan, too,” Franklin said. “So right now I kind of have the best of both worlds. I absolutely love Peyton (Manning). I think he’s incredible, and the fact that he’s playing for us is so exciting.”
Franklin, who has a Broncos jersey, baseball hats and a handful of T-shirts, said football is a big deal in her family.
“My dad was actually drafted for Canadian football, so he’s a huge football fan,” she said. “Always growing up with him loving football and having Sundays, it’s just a big football day, which is great. It makes it a really special day and brings the whole family together — it’s exciting. I remember growing up with that, so now it’s fun because I get into it as much as he does. I’m trying to learn as much as I can from him. I’ve definitely grown as a fan the past few seasons.”
So will the Olympic hopeful head to Sports Authority Field at Mile High any time in 2012?
“I love going to games,” she smiled. “I love the whole atmosphere of it. I’m really excited for this season.”
-Gray Caldwell
Tags: Eric Decker, Missy Franklin
adios muchacha
The Thunder are fun to watch and I want a Midwest team to have a chance.
Skillz, you playing cards tonight bro?
lol nice one db
na just about to get some grub and some sleep gotta work a half day in town then when it rains i gotta run to hardin mt to put fence posts in at the taco johns and dairy queen my boss owns
Router reset back on line!
tlcat06 Who are the fakers you are asking about!
FTR
I just wish I could be funny like OC. I think OC is just one of those guys whose brain is wired up different. I think he ought to post more often.
Nice DB… that was a 10 point comment…
Cool Skillz… we have yearling coming in tomorrow so I too may be heading to bed soon
FTR… Fakers = LAL Phakers basketball team
fence posts seems everyone is doing them on the blog lol
I didn’t get very far – it’s still to hot to be outside at 9:30 pm
goodnight BRONCOS COUNTRY BRONC ON lol db post of the day he can’t get online cause of the THUNDER lmao
why i do it in the rain lol
I drove in Steel fence posts today… in a water gap (but only 7 so not like it was work)
Goodnight Skillz!
Is it real dry out there DB… we are facing a serious drought in this area if things don’t change in the next few weeks…
it’s may 21 and I already have almost all the summer work (fencing, irrigating) finished… couldn’t even see some of the fences till mid June last year due to snow
Daddy out as well – G’nite!
Thanks Turtle
FTR
Yes but we are perpetual desert. My biggest problem is sand – it doesn’t hold post well and we have high winds.
no problem FTR…
later DB!!! have a good night… I too will take my leave that way Flip-Flop and Beast can come around and mourn there poor poor Phakers!!!
Peace and One Love in Broncos Country
B-R-O-N-C-O-S BRONCOS BRONCOS BRONCOS!!!
O… before I go… BIG BRONCO SHOUT OUT TO
TRB and Shaz!!! hope to see you soon
Skillz… Hardin eh?? Does that mean you’re close to Billings??
Goodnite Broncos Country:
ALL HAIL THE NECK!! Screw the rest!
ILMSDB IF they put on the Blue and Orande uniform then honor that.
GO BRONCOS
Peace Out.
FTR
Been tortured to death all day long! Has no pulse. Still most likely only…. mostly dead!!!
My BBBP rookie cb Omar Bolden will get playing time at safety.
Good Luck Missy!
Ok, now that’s over with I gotta say Really? With everthing that has gone on today, Williams’ DUI mistrial, signing Wolfe, and OTA’s this is the blog post? WoW!
Freaking power went out last night missed the game and couldnt blog. Saw the Lakers lost. Oh well. I knew they would. I had the Thunder in 5 games. Cant really “rub it in” when I expected them to lose. I said around a week ago that it was going to be a Thunder/Spurs West final.
I see im still “flip flop” lol I guess you cant have more than one bet one something even if its with more than one person. Lol.
Well im out for a few days. Have to drive 3 hours to get to the airport. Headed to Disneyland for a couple days. Im sure the celebrating will begin along with more personal attacks on me behind my back lol. When down there I may make a post in the mornings im down there. Ill at least be making one lol. Didnt realize I booked this trip during the first OTAs but oh well this is more important.
Dallas Clark signed with the Buccs who then traded Winslow to the Seahawks. I wonder if Manning will give our D any tips or insider info on Clark to help us defend him during the Buccs/Broncos game.
With that said Ill be back Thursday night or Friday Morning if im to tired when I get back. Dont have too much fun while im gone LBF BFE FTR and others
and when giving the Tebow lovers hell add a bit for me 
Peace out for now Broncos country ILMSDB!!!!!
Morning Broncos Country!
Back after our long weekend here in Canada and had a chance to read through all the posts. A lot of arguing going back and forth……….some things never seem to change around here……….lol
So stoked to watch some video of our team practicing. Loved that zinger PM delivered to that reporter on his question about brock…………made me laugh out loud.
Love the fact that PM is so focused this early……….and actually pretty much since he signed on the dotted line. I think he’s more motivated to succeed now than he’s ever been in his entire career cause of all the doubters out there. That’s the kind of player I’m glad to have on my side.
I’m looking forward to seeing more coverage today.
Have a great trip AB…………
GO BRONCOS!
Def time for a new blog……………over 700 posts on one is a little redonkulous! lol
Loved reading the article in the post with McGahee stating that he’ll run for more than 1200 yards this season. If he can stay healthy, I can totally see that. Some bloggers have said that cause TT is gone, our run game will suffer. Yes, he was responsible for a nice chunk of run yardage……..but I think PM’s ability to pass will actually open up the run game for greater success. Teams won’t be able to stack the box as they did last season and with PM’s ability to call the play at the line, he will choose what’s best for whatever the D is giving him. Add the change of pace back like Hillman in there and I think we could have a very potent run game this season.
Great day in sports! The refs could not save the Lakers again!
Love the competition we have at camp this year. Having 90 guys just makes everyone try that much harder!
wow…………this blog is so dead in the mornings. Sux having to blog with yourself….even if I have multiple personalities! lol
Theres not even a blog on coming to terms with Wolfe yet. You`d figure that there would be a new blog by now.
hey stand…………how goes it?
what are your thoughts on McGahee running over 1200 yards, and our run game in general?
If it`ll keep Manning from getting hit alot, give him the Rock. Manning is very smart, if he wants to prolong his career, you`ve gotta run the ball more. Manning will hand it off all the more I believe.
Plus, Manning won`t get hit as much as many think, remember, he gets rid if the ball quickly. We were so used to Tebow running around in the pocket wanting to make something happen, and the end result was either a spectacular play or a sack. This year will be differnt. We have a very solid O-line, young but solid, no concerns on my part.
A QB can’t win the Super Bowl on his own………..the entire team wins it. It wasn’t until JE had a complete team, including a stud running back, that he took down the championship.
Just having PM alone doesn’t garauntee us squat except knowing we have one of the best all-time on our team. It’s going to be how the entire team plays around him that will dictate how we do next season.
But one thing’s for sure……….he will make everyone around him better and I’ll take those odds anyday! I honestly think we’ll be a force in the league this upcoming season and for years to come.
agreed strand…………if the play isn’t there, he’s just going to get rid of it and not try to make something out of nothing. More often than not, when you try that, it ends in a negative play or even worse, a turnover. Witnessed plenty of that last season.
Manning puts us in great position to go far into the playoffs and even go to the SB. He has his history behind him filled with much success. I lkie our chances these next 3 to four years.
Don`t get me wrong, I enjoyed Tim Tebows play and enthusiasm big time. I don`t regret having him as our QB one single second. Tim was very fun to watch. Its a whole new ball game now. Both Tebow and Manning are two totally different players and both are awesome in their own way. I wish Tim all the best. I`ll be watching him play. BRONCOS ALL THE WAY IN 2012!!
I’ll agree to disagree on that strand………..for me, while the exciting plays were like mid-blowing exciting, his lows were the lowest of lows and it was a struggle to watch. Last year was some of the ugliest football I’ve ever seen. But wins are wins and I thank TT for coming through when the game was on the line. I’m just happy that I won’t have to watch that kind of ball again this year…….
Its a new chapter for our beloved Broncos, no doubt.
amen to that kk. last year was a tough, draining, and embarrassing year. i couldnt hardly watch us playing those games. i would just sit on the couch for 2-1/2 hours shaking my head. and then after would hafta listen to people talk about how proud they were of the worst football i had ever seen. was like being in the twilight zone man. still haunted by it. i thank god elway knows what he’s doing and got rid of tebow. he figured correctly that most tebowites would raise 10 kinds of hell but then would eventually fade out. and thats what happened. all hail the man in charge!
I love former Kyle Orton fans talking smack about to many turnovers last season… you should check the TD vs INT ratio between kyle orton and tebow… I hope PM stays healthy! GO BRONCOS.