Missy Franklin ‘nervous’ before high school meet

By Maggie Hendricks | Fourth-Place Medal

Missy Franklin won four gold medals at the London Olympics. Since then, she's appeared in front of crowds at a Denver Broncos game, "The Tonight Show," and at plenty of different awards shows. Though she's a teenager, you think these experiences would drum nervousness right out of her, right?

Wrong. She is still a teenager, and found herself quite nervous before a dual meet. Competing for Regis Jesuit High School, Franklin said she was surprised but happy that she was so nervous.

To the shock of no one, Franklin easily qualified for the Colorado state meet with her four swims. There was controversy behind Franklin's decision to swim, as some critics said it wasn't fair for such a decorated swimmer to compete against other high schoolers. But Erica Perhada, her competitor's coach, said Franklin actually helped her team by raising the level of competition.

Franklin posed for pictures with her competitors after the meet was over. Anyone who was worried about her motives for swimming in high school meets should be calmed down by the fact that Franklin was so excited to swim with her high school teammates. Though she's an extraordinary athlete, she wanted the chance to be an ordinary high schooler. What's more ordinary than being nervous before a swim meet?

Ryan Lochte defeats Michael Phelps in Olympic trials showdown

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By Chris Chase | Fourth-Place Medal

Ryan Lochte took the first round of his hotly-anticipated summer showdown with Michael Phelps, defeating the two-time defending Olympic champion in the 400 IM to open the U.S. Olympic trials in Omaha.

The 27-year-old from Florida led from the outset of the grueling race to touch in 4:07.06, nearly a full body length ahead of Phelps. Lochte had two won world championships in the event after Phelps "retired" from the lengthy discipline following his victory in the Beijing Games. Despite Phelps' pedigree in the race, Lochte was heavily favored to win Monday night, especially after he posted the fastest time in qualifying heats by four seconds.

It was Phelps first loss in a final at the U.S. trials since July 13, 2004, when Ian Crocker defeated him in the 100 butterfly. His defeat did have a silver lining: With his second-place finish, Phelps became the first swimmer in United States history to qualify for four Olympics. The 14-time gold medalist is three medals away from becoming the most prolific winner in the history of the Summer Games.

Monday's result was stinging for third-place finisher Tyler Clary. The 23-year-old Californian was the silver medalist in the 400 at the past two world championships without Phelps. Now, he won't swim the event in London.

Phelps confirmed as much after the race, immediately dismissing speculation that he'd skip the race at next month's Olympics. "This is a baby step," he said of the loss. "Ryan knows that, just like I do, that the race that counts happens in a couple of weeks."

Lochte didn't disagree. Instead of puffing his chest at beating Phelps for the first time in the 400, Lochte demurred to the Olympic king in an interview with NBC. "I still think I'm the hunter trying to catch him," he told Andrea Kremer.