Missy Franklin Picks Her College, Will Swim For Cal Bears

Missy Franklin is on her way to California.

The Olympic swimming sensation, who had her breakout performance at the 2012 London Olympics at age 17, has decided that she’ll spend the next four years swimming for the Cal Bears, the Yahoo! Sports blog Fourth-Place Medal reported.

Missy Franklin won four gold medals in London, but decided to forgo what would have been a lucrative endorsement career and instead retain her amateur status so she could attend college. The Colorado native decided on California, which has a stellar swimming program. Cal claims as an alum Natalie Coughlin, the standout US swimmer whose 100m backstroke record Franklin broke this summer.

Missy Franklin told fans about the news via her Twitter account.

“Committed to swim at Cal Berkeley! I am officially a baby Golden Bear! I am so honored to be apart of such a special team! #GoBears”

Franklin also had interest from Georgia and Texas, each with strong swimming programs but not in the same class as Cal. The Bears have won the last two national championships in swimming.

Aside from the Olympics medals, Missy Franklin had one busy summer. When she got home the high school rising senior did the talk show circuit, including The Tonight Show. She also got to throw out the first pitch at a Colorado Rockies game and made the coin-toss at the start of a Denver Broncos game.

Missy Franklin will now be able to swim collegiately for two years before turning pro in 2015, Swimming World reports. She will then begin preparations for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.