Colorado’s Missy Franklin Becomes First US Female To Get In 7 Olympics Races

July 2, 2012 11:29 AM

Missy Franklin competes in preliminary heat 10 of the Women’s 200 m Freestyle during Day Three of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team Trials at CenturyLink Center on June 27, 2012 in Omaha, Neb. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Missy Franklin will become the first American female to swim seven events at the Olympics.

The 17-year-old Franklin of Centennial, Colo., locked up her fourth individual event with a dominating win in the 200-meter backstroke Sunday night at the U.S. Olympic trials. She touched in 2 minutes, 06.12 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year and nearly 1 1/2 seconds ahead of runner-up Elizabeth Beisel, who secured the second spot in London at 2:07.58.

Franklin had already earned spots in the 100 and 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke. She’s also assured of swimming on all three relays.

The 200 back is Franklin’s best event. She’s the defending world champion and heads to London as the overwhelming favorite in that race.

By PAUL NEWBERRY, AP National Writer