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High School Classmates Honor Olympic Hero Missy Franklin

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Swimmer Missy Franklin just won five Olympic medals, but she'll say the honors she received Monday meant even more because they came from schoolmates and her family.

Franklin has been on the late night talk shows and early morning talk shows, but Monday was her day to meet and greet her fellow students at Regis Jesuit High School.

The theme was swimming as 1,600 students got up and did a mock freestyle in honor of Franklin's accomplishments. The banners were up and spirit was high.

So where was the guest of honor during the rally?

She was sitting on the gym floor with all her buddies.

She is a young woman with many medals, but only a few words at the podium.

"I honestly can tell you I would not be standing here right now without you guys. So thank you so, so much," Franklin told her schoolmates.

Franklin's parents stood at the doors of the gymnasium giving the students a look at her medals.

PHOTO GALLERY: Colorado's Missy Franklin At The Olympics

The 17-year-old swimmer hasn't decided whether to turn those medals into endorsement money or go to college next year.

"I'm actually taking my first recruiting trip … this weekend … Cal-Berkley," Franklin said.

The impressive quality in Franklin is that she is truly savoring all her good and gold fortune.

"My life is perfect, it's amazing," she said.

Aside from her decision about next year, Franklin is most often asked about fellow Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte. She says all her girlfriends would like to meet him.

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