The Colorado sweetheart of USA Swimming, Missy Franklin, tweeted an update Wednesday that helps explain both her absence from the sport recently and her disappointing Rio performance in 2016.
Franklin says she discovered in early January, through an MRI, she had bursitis in both of her shoulders.
Bursitis is the inflammation or irritation of the bursa, a sac filled with lubricating fluid, located between tissues such as bone, muscle, tendons, and skin. It's role is to decrease rubbing, friction, and irritation, according to WebMD.
She had experienced shoulder pain in 2016, too, but didn't learn the cause until the MRI.
Franklin explained via a Tweet she had separate surgeries on both of her shoulders in early 2017 to get rid of the built up bursal and scar tissue.
Per doctor and coach's orders - she will be taking time off to recover.
"I am already back in the water in limited training but I won't be back in competitions just yet," she wrote in a Tweet.
"It won't be easy, but I know this is what's best for me to come back stronger than ever! Thank you all for your continued love and support. My fans are one of my biggest motivators, and it's their support that keeps me pushing forward every single day. I am forever grateful for them," she continued.
She captioned her note, "I love you all so so much and can't thank you enough for being a part of this journey with me."
I love you all so so much and can't thank you enough for being a part of this journey with me💖 pic.twitter.com/PmZ9IbpYIF
— Missy Franklin (@missyfranklin) March 29, 2017
The Regis Jesuit High School graduate was visibly upset after the conclusion of the 2016 Rio Olympic games.
In the 2012 games, at just 17 years old, Franklin won five medals.
Four years later, she never made it to the podium. She didn't qualify for the 200 freestyle nor the 200 back finals.
She got a gold medal for swimming in the prelims for a team relay event.
We wish Franklin a speedy recovery!
