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The Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/13/2012 05:03:10 PM MSTDecember 14, 2012 12:13 AM GMTUpdated: 12/13/2012 05:13:44 PM MST
Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin charmed a dozen kids at Children's Hospital Colorado on Thursday afternoon — making jokes, talking about musicians like Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber, giving them autographed photos, and encouraging them on their path to healing.
Her day started with swim practice at 4 a.m., followed by school. By 3 p.m., she was on the loading dock of the hospital in Aurora, putting on makeup and doing her hair. rapidly putting on makeup and doing her hair on the loading dock of the hospital, ready to go.
Upstairs in the oncology ward, she quickly found common ground with 15-year-old Makenna Wallin in their mutual love for swimming. When Franklin pulled out one of the four gold medals she won in the Summer Olympics and draped it around Makenna's neck, she got a huge grin in return.
When laughter burst from the room, it turned out that Franklin was making a joke, explaining her reaction when she heard the hospital had told the kids that a secret celebrity was going to visit them.
"I was worried they were going to be expecting Brad Pitt," Franklin joked.
She traveled from room to room with her coach, Todd Schmitz, who cancelled afternoon swim practice so that Missy and her teammates could dance with some of the patients at a party in the evening.
He and Franklin played off each other as they visited patients.
In the room of Skylar Nelson, 13, they talked about an upcoming Justin Bieber concert. "You're going, right?" Skylar asked.
"She's got it circled on her calendar," Schmitz joked.
When a kid was shy, and could think of nothing to say, Franklin always thought of something — even if it was pointing to the television program on the muted TV, asking about favorite TV programs.
Cynthia Lozano, 10, was not shy. Sitting on her bed in pink pants and a lavender T-shirt sparkling with rhinestones, Lozano talked about her passion for sports, radiating a huge smile.
"Miss loves pink," Schmitz said. "But the best part of your outfit is your smile. Missy's got a big smile, too."
When Franklin heard that Cynthia loves to run marathons, she knew exactly what to say.
"Awesome!" she said. "I could never do that!"
Colleen O'Connor: 303-954-1083, coconnor
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