Missy Franklin, a renowned swimmer, headlines the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026. On Friday, it was announced that Franklin, who won five Olympic gold medals, would be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
What happened?
Franklin earned four of her Olympic gold medals at the London Games in 2012. She then went on to compete for the University of California, Berkeley, where she won four individual national titles.
Why it matters for Missy Franklin
Franklin's achievements in the pool are a testament to her hard work and dedication. She led the Cal Bears to the 2015 team title and won the Honda Cup, awarded to the nation's top collegiate female athlete.
What comes next?
The Cal Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026 also includes soccer player Alex Morgan, who won the gold medal with the US Olympic team in 2012. Morgan played professionally in the US and Europe after graduating from Cal.
Franklin's induction into the Hall of Fame is a recognition of her outstanding career in swimming. She won the 200-yard freestyle in 2014 and 2015, and the 200-yard backstroke in 2015.
The Cal Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026 consists of nine individuals, including football players J.J. Arrington and Andre Carter. Arrington set the school record with 2,018 rushing yards in 2004.
Carter holds the school record for career sacks with 31. He played for the Bears from 1997 to 2000 and was selected by the 49ers in the first round of the 2001 NFL draft.
The class also includes infielder Tony Renda, who was the Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2011. Renda owned a .348 career batting average and led the Bears in hitting in 2010 and 2011.
Rugby player Eric Fry, track and field head coach Erv Hunt, women's crew member Kara Kohler, and sprinter Atlee Mahorn are also part of the 2026 class. Fry helped Cal win four consecutive national championships from 2007 to 2010.
Hunt spent 31 years leading the Bears and was the US men's track and field head coach in the 1996 Olympics. Kohler sparked Cal to the 2013 national title and competed in three Olympics.
Mahorn still holds the school record in the outdoor 200 meters with a time of 20.20 seconds, set in 1988. He competed for Canada in three Olympics.
The induction of the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026 is a celebration of the achievements of these outstanding athletes. Franklin's induction is a recognition of her remarkable career in swimming.
Franklin's accomplishments in the pool have made her one of the most decorated athletes in Cal history. Her induction into the Hall of Fame is a testament to her hard work and dedication to the sport.
The Cal Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be formally inducted at a later date. The ceremony will be a celebration of the achievements of these outstanding athletes, including Missy Franklin.