LONDON — Michael Phelps has yet to win a gold medal, and Ryan Lochte's star is fading. So along came Missy Franklin to restore American swim hopes at the Olympics on Monday night.
Coming back less than 14 minutes after swimming a semifinal heat, the Colorado teenager won the first gold medal, rallying to win the 100-meter backstroke.
"Indescribable," the 17-year-old Franklin said. "I still can't believe that happened. I don't even know what to think. I saw my parents' reaction on the screen and I just started bawling. I can't even think right now."
Matt Grevers kept the gold medals coming in, following up Franklin's win with one of his own in the men's 100 backstroke. Nick Thoman took the silver.
Rebecca Soni nearly pulled out a third U.S. gold, rallying furiously on the return leg of the 100 breaststroke. But she couldn't quite catch the blazing 15-year-old Lithuanian gold medalist, Ruta Meilutyte.
Read more about today's Olympic games in tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.