Heading into the London Olympic Games four years ago, much of the buzz was about Missy Franklin, a swimmer from Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora. And Franklin lived up to the hype, winning five medals, including four golds medals.
Update 08/09/16: Missy Franklin Finishes Last In 200m Freestyle Rio Debut
Franklin is part of a strong contingent of Coloradans heading into the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, but according to Denver Post reporter John Meyer, this time the spotlight may shine on wrestler Adeline Gray.
The daughter of a Denver policeman, Gray graduated from Bear Creek High School in Lakewood.
"She's feisty, she's funny and she stands to become the first U.S. woman to win a gold medal in wrestling," Meyer said. "If she wins, I think she's going to be big -- you'll see her on The Today Show, on The Tonight Show ... she'll be everywhere."
Franklin's performances have been considered uneven since London; Meyer said that can be attributed to a back injury that occurred not long after the Olympics, as well as her physical development.
"In London she was a teenager with a 17-year-old's body -- now she's a 21-year-old woman and she's learning to adapt to that," he said.
As part of our coverage of Coloradans at the Olympics, Colorado Matters host Nathan Heffel spoke with Meyer shortly before he left for Rio.
Here are 11 Colorado athletes who may make an impact at the games:
Wrestler Adeline Gray Hates To Be Called 'Too Pretty'
Ben Pinkelman- Centennial- Rugby
Jenny Simpson- Boulder- 1,500 Meters
Boris Berian- Colorado Springs- 800 Meters
Emma Coburn- Boulder- Steeplechase
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