As a two-time Olympian and six-time medalist, American swimmer Missy Franklin has built a large community over the years. That community has stood faithfully by her side throughout her storied career. 

Perhaps it’s even more meaningful that the same community that cheered her on along the path to victory also played a crucial role in helping Franklin during a time of crisis. 

“My dad [Dick Franklin] was diagnosed with ADPKD (autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease). It runs on my father’s side of the family. It is a hereditary disease, meaning it is passed down,” Franklin told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. 

“Out of the four siblings that my dad is a part of, three of them have ADPKD. And his father had it as well. It is the most common form of PKD, which is a genetic condition that causes cysts to form on the kidneys, and it leads to a decline in kidney function, which will eventually require the need for dialysis or a transplant.” 

Franklin, who retired from swimming in 2018, explained that her father’s condition was known for some time, but in 2022, the family learned the difficult news that the disease was “rapidly progressing.” 

“To realize that it was progressing to the point where it was severely impacting his quality of life, and we knew that we needed to do something moving forward, that pushed us to reach out to our close community about finding a living organ donor.” 

In May of that year, Franklin and her family received a life-changing phone call. Her father had a donor match, and several months later, in August 2022, the transplant was performed. 

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST KATIE LEDECKY IS AN ‘INCREDIBLE LEADER FOR TEAM USA,’ SWIM LEGEND MISSY FRANKLIN SAYS

“Through our entire story and journey, we have just really realized the importance of having family health history conversations with genetic diseases that run in the family. And our story has a happy ending, and I am so grateful for that. And I don’t take advantage of that for one day.” 

But it was that community that Franklin was already so proud to be a part of that answered her family’s call. 

Crissy Ahmann-Leighton of the U.S. swims in the qualifying heats of the women’s 100-meter butterfly race during the 1992 Summer Olympics July 12, 1992, at the Bernat Picornell Pools in Montjuic, Spain. Ahmann-Leighton was the eventual silver medalist.  (David Madison/Getty Images)

It was two-time Olympic gold medalist Crissy Perham who answered the call to be a living donor, and the two were miraculously a match. 

“The fact that we got to match at all, the fact that my dad got a living donor at all, is such a miracle and such a gift. … And then the fact that she was an Olympic gold medalist in swimming, it’s just like – it’s so unreal,” Franklin said.

Franklin says she still remains in contact with Perham regularly and considers her a part of her family. 

“There’s not a minute that I spend with my dad that I don’t think of Crissy because I literally would not have had that time and those moments with him if it were not for her and what she did for us.” 

Franklin is using her platform and teaming up with Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc. to drive the conversation about kidney health and the importance of early detection and genetic testing. 

Laureus Academy ember Missy Franklin poses at the Mercedes-Benz Building prior to the 2020 Laureus World Sports Awards Feb. 16, 2020, in Berlin, Germany.  (Simon Hofmann/Getty Images for Laureus)

“I think one thing that Otsuka and I are really trying to do is, first of all, validate that these conversations are very hard to have,” Franklin said. 

“It’s really hard to talk about diseases that do impact the family, that are genetic, that are passed down. But we know the importance of early detection. We know the importance of working with your health care team professionals to put together a plan in place that’s going to give you the best outcome it possibly can. And that’s why these conversations are so, so important.” 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Over the franchise’s last 19 games, the Chargers have won five times.

This is a team that has beaten one opponent that finished with a winning record since Dec. 5, 2021, a stretch covering 40 games.

The over/under win total for the 2024 version of Chargers has been set at 8.5, which, in the NFL, is the exact expression of .500 or, stated another way, mediocrity.

Still, the Chargers will enter training camp near the end of July flush with confidence cultivated during the offseason program by, most of all, new head coach Jim Harbaugh.

“There’s no doubt in my mind we have the right guys and the right staff,” quarterback Justin Herbert said at the conclusion of minicamp. “We just have to go out there and execute. We have that faith we’re going to get things right.”

This is the time of year when every NFL team believes it has improved and most are convinced the Super Bowl is a realistic possibility.

Then again, at this point in 2023, much of the talk surrounding the Chargers was how Herbert was going to be uncorking bombs all over the place under then-offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

Instead, following a series of injuries and failed game-winning opportunities, Herbert finished with an average gain of 6.9 yards per pass attempt, the second-lowest mark of his career.

So the talk is nothing more than just that — talk. Winning will be determined by action, and here are five areas that, depending on how the action unfolds in training camp, will shape the Chargers’ success this season:

If the Edmonton Oilers have hopes in becoming the second team to win a Stanley Cup Final after trailing the series three games to none, then Saturday’s thumping of Florida was a good start. 

The Oilers avoided a sweep in dominant fashion on Saturday night, beating the Florida Panthers, 8-1.

Early in the first period, the Panthers were on the power play, and a shot rang off the post. But after a turnover, the Oilers had a 2-on-1, and Mattian Janmark found the back of the net off a patient feed from Connor Brown. A few minutes later, Adam Henrique scored to give the boys from the land up north a 2-0 lead, but Florida answered right back with a goal by Vladimir Tarasenko to cut the lead in half.

Edmonton, though, quickly returned the favor. This time it was Dylan Holloway on a nifty pass from Leon Draisaitl to make it 3-1 Oilers. It was Draisaitl’s first point of the series, and it was the first time the Oilers led by two goals all series.

The scoring barrage continued in the second, as Connor McDavid finally scored his first goal of the Cup Final. It didn’t stop there.

Darnell Nurse joined the fun at the 4:59 mark of the period, forcing the Panthers to replace Sergei Bobrovsky with Anthony Stolarz. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored on a two-man advantage later in the period, and Holloway and Ryan Mcleod each added another in the third, just in case.

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) celebrates a goal in the second period against the Florida Panthers in game four of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place.  (Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports)

The Oilers are looking to become the fifth team in NHL history to win a series after trailing 3-0, and the first since the 2014 Los Angeles Kings did so in the first round – they wound up winning the Cup that year after winning two more Game 7s.

The only comeback in the Cup Final was in 1942 by the Toronto Maple Leafs – it was the first 3-0 comeback in the Big 4 leagues.

Five other teams forced, but lost, a Game 7.

Edmonton Oilers center Adam Henrique (19) celebrates again with Edmonton Oilers center Mattias Janmark (13) in the first period against the Florida Panthers in game four of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports)

Game 5 will be Tuesday night in Florida at 8 p.m. ET.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.