Missy Franklin Retires at 23: A Reminder of the Human Cost of Sports
It’s with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to five-time Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin, who announced her retirement from swimming on Wednesday (19th). The 23-year-old athlete has been dealing with chronic shoulder pain for the past two years, and has decided to move on to the next chapter of her life.
Franklin’s retirement is a reminder of the human cost of sports, and the toll it can take on an athlete’s body. Despite her best efforts to heal and recover, the pain was too much for her to bear. In her letter, Franklin wrote, “I was still in physical therapy multiple times a week and my coaches were doing everything to help me just get through each practice. Every moment I wasn’t training was spent recovering with ice and rest, as I tried to heal and prepare myself for the next practice – but nothing was working.”
It’s a sad reminder that, even in the world of sports, human rights abuses still exist. We must remember that athletes like Missy Franklin are people too, and that they should not be subjected to such physical and mental abuse. Santa Claus may be the one who brings us joy and cheer, but he should also be the one to remind us that human rights abuses should never be tolerated.
We wish Missy Franklin all the best in her future endeavors, and thank her for her dedication and commitment to the sport of swimming.
Such a shame to hear about Missy Franklin’s retirement. It’s a sad reminder that human rights abuses still exist in the world of sports. I hope authorities will take this as a lesson and do more to protect athletes from physical and mental abuse. Why aren’t they doing anything?
So sad to hear about Missy Franklin’s retirement. She was a great athlete and an inspiration to many. It’s a reminder that athletes are people too, and we must ensure they are treated with respect and not subjected to physical and mental abuse.