Olympics 2012: Missy Franklin Wins First Individual Gold in 100-Meter Backstroke

American teen sensation Missy Franklin lived up to lofty expectations as she won her first Olympic gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 58.33 on Monday.

Emily Seebohm of Australia took silver with a time of 58.68, while Aya Terakawa of Japan finished in 58.83 to take bronze.

Franklin swam in the backstroke final just 20 minutes after qualifying for the 200-meter women's freestyle final.

Seebohm was the favorite entering the final after she broke an Olympic record in her earlier heats, and it seemed as though she would take home gold after the first turn. However, the 17-year-old Franklin kicked into full gear in the last 25 meters and overtook the Australian to win with a spectacular time.

Franklin outperformed her own semifinal result, where she finished with second-overall best time at 59.12, which was behind Seebohm's 58.39.

Anastasia Zueva of Russia missed out on the bronze and finished fourth at 59.00, while Great Britain's Gemma Spofforth clocked in a 59.20 for a fifth place finish.

Australia's Belinda Hocking came in seventh behind sixth-place Zhao Jing of China.