Missy Franklin wins US swimming gold

GlobalPost

US teen Missy Franklin won gold today in the women's 100-meter backstroke.

Australia's Emily Seebohm took home silver while Japan's Aya Terakawa won bronze, according to Reuters.

Franklin, 17, won the two-lap race in 58.33 seconds — an American women's record — for her first Olympic gold and second medal, after she took bronze in the 4×1000 freestyle relay, reported the Associated Press. Seebohm finished in 58.68 seconds and Terakawa touched in 58.83.

More from GlobalPost: Ryan Lochte wins gold at London Olympics

The teenaged phenom fought hard in the last 30 meters of the race, coming from behind and passing Seebohm, according to CBS Sports. And the most impressive part of Franklin's win? She touched the water of her gold-medal-winning race just 11 minutes after swimming in the semi-finals of the 200-meter freestyle. The gold-medal winner came in fourth in her heat and took the eighth and final place qualifying place overall. She will be swimming in those finals on Tuesday.

Help keep The World going strong!

The article you just read is free because dedicated readers and listeners like you chose to support our nonprofit newsroom. Our team works tirelessly to ensure you hear the latest in international, human-centered reporting every weekday. But our work would not be possible without you. We need your help.

Make a gift today to help us reach our $25,000 goal and keep The World going strong. Every gift will get us one step closer.