Meet Missy.
After a very long wait, it's *finally* the week of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo! Since all of us at Team OXB have been counting down the days until the games begin, we felt it was incredibly fitting to shine a gold medal-hued light on OXB Ambassador, American former competition swimmer and five-time Olympic gold medalist, Missy Franklin.
Missy calls Denver home with her husband and dog Ollie, and, in very exciting news, has her first baby on the way! A record-breaking, two-time Olympic swimmer, Missy now works with or is on the board of numerous companies, teaches PureBarre and swimming, and has started her own company, too! And, though she may be incredibly busy out of the pool these days, she continues to spread the same inspirational spirit we saw when she competed - and totally crushed it! - at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics
Without further ado, let's learn a bit more about Missy, shall we?
Where do you live?
I live in Denver, Colorado with my husband, Hayes, and our two-year-old Bernese mountain dog Ollie! We are currently 36 weeks pregnant expecting our first babe!!
What is your “day job”?
My day job includes working with a lot of different companies such as AHA, Bridgestone, Speedo, and SafeSplash, and as an ambassador for the USA Swimming Foundation and a board member for two philanthropic foundations, Laureus and YUWA. I do a lot of public and motivational speaking for different groups/companies as well! I am a Pure Barre teacher and also teach one-on-one lessons at SwimLabs.
My husband and I also recently co-founded our own company, SwimSwag, which is a clothing/retail company specific to swimming! I work in several different capacities for each company and love the work I am able to do.
My husband and I are expecting our first child in August and becoming a mom will definitely become my number one priority, but I would love to continue working in whatever capacity is best for our family!
What does a day in your life look like?
Being a former swimmer, I am unable to sleep past six in the morning! I wake up early, always get my workout done first thing, and then every day looks different depending on what my companies need at the time. Normally I travel once to twice a week, but with this past year a lot of the work I do has become virtual, so it’s a lot of content creation and motivational speaking internally for the several different companies I work with. Locally, I am teaching Pure Barre and lessons at SwimLabs day to day as well.
What has been your proudest moment to date?
My proudest moment to date has been becoming Hayes’ wife, and soon to be tied with becoming a mommy to our first child.
My swimming accomplishments (and failures) are a huge part of who I am, but they do not define me as a person.
My pride has always been first and foremost rooted in the difference I am able to make and working as hard as I can to continually inspire all those around me.
What are your favorite ways to sweat?
Running/walking/hiking and barre! I LOVE getting outside and being in nature, especially when we live somewhere as beautiful as Colorado. I also found barre after retiring from competitive swimming and truly love it. I was certified as a teacher early in 2020 and currently teach at Pure Barre in Greenwood Village!
What are your preferred workout clothing brands?
Speedo is my favorite swimwear brand! I’ve worn them my entire career and always will! For dryland workouts, I love Lululemon and Outdoor Voices!
What are your favorite go-to pre- and post-workout meals or snacks?
My favorite go-to pre-workout meals are easy bars! My favorites are Gratisfied and GoMacro bars. Post-workout, I love making my own overnight oats and eggs with avocado.
How do you show yourself self care?
I think learning what self-care means to you is a lifelong process, and ever changing. It is going to mean something different to us at different points in our lives. Right now, my self-care is focused on spending as much quality time as possible with Hayes, and taking care of myself at 36 weeks pregnant by moving my body every day, resting as much as I can, and prepping myself emotionally and physically for birth and bringing our baby home! I’m a very introverted extrovert, so it’s very important to me to make sure I’m taking time to recharge so I can continue showing up for all the loved ones in my life!
What’s something you're looking forward to?
Being a mom and watching Hayes become a dad! Being a mom has always been my greatest dream in life, and I can’t believe it’s really coming true. I feel so blessed.
What’s your favorite OXB piece to sweat in?
Do I have to choose!? It’s impossible!
I love my Disco Chain and my XL Beam Chain, and recently have been wearing the bangles and absolutely love them. Coming from swimming, I was never able to wear jewelry and if I did I would have to take it on and off and it would get so tangled in my bag. I love now being able to wear my favorite pieces and express myself and my personality when I work out!
What’s one of the most important lessons (big or small!) you’ve learned from playing sports, being a part of a team, or your own personal fitness journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that records will fall, people will forget how many medals you won, and the times that you raced, but they will never, ever forget how you made them feel. Whether you win or get dead last, sportsmanship is the greatest medal you will carry with you throughout and after your career. It’s the small moments along the incredible journey that you will remember and cherish the most, so enjoy every second and know it’s not all about the destination.
What’s next for you and/or what can OXB help promote/support?
I'd love to bring more awareness to one of the companies I am a board member for, YUWA! It’s an incredible organization that stands for everything OXB is about. It’s a program and school in India that uses soccer to teach young girls important life lessons and skills and to most importantly keep them out of childhood marriage, which is rampant for young girls in the village they live in.
