Missy Franklin announces she’s taking time off from swimming after shoulder surgeries

Franklin indicated that she had separate shoulder surgeries earlier this year to remove the “built up bursal and scar tissue.”

Christian Clark

Mar. 29, 2017, 1:09 p.m.

Missy Franklin announced Wednesday that she's taking time off from competitive swimming to recover from shoulder surgeries. (Erich Schlegel/USA Today Sports)

Five-Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin plans to take a little time off from competitive swimming.

Franklin, who spent part of her childhood in Colorado and graduated from Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, announced on social media Wednesday that she needs the down time to recover from shoulder surgeries.

“I had started feeling pain in my shoulders last year but it wasn’t until early January, when I had an MRI, that I learned I had bursitis in both shoulders,” Franklin wrote.

Franklin indicated that she had separate shoulder surgeries earlier this year to remove the “built up bursal and scar tissue.”

This essentially says it all… but I would really like to reiterate how this is what's best for me to come back stronger than ever. I'm so far from being done with this sport, and so far from being done fighting to be the best I can be. I've had the best support system while going through this (my Bear Bros and phenomenal coaches get a special shoutout👊🏻💛🐻) and my fans mean everything to me. I love you all so so much and can't thank you enough for being a part of this journey with me💖

A post shared by Missy Franklin (@missyfranklin88) on Mar 29, 2017 at 10:39am PDT

Franklin won four gold medals as a 17-year-old at the London Olympics in 2012, but she struggled in Rio last summer. She failed to reach the final in her two individual events, the 200 freestyle and 200 backstroke.

She did not indicate when she’d be able to swim competitively again.

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Missy Franklin announced Wednesday that she's taking time off from competitive swimming to recover from shoulder surgeries. (Erich Schlegel/USA Today Sports)