2012 in Review: Canton's Allison Schmitt Makes Waves at Summer Olympics

Editor's note: This is the second in a five-part series highlighting five of the top stories around Plymouth and Canton in 2012. 

One of the biggest storylines from the Summer Olympic Games in London—and one of the most engaging stories monitored by Plymouth-Canton Patch this year—was the making of a star in Allison Schmitt, a 2008 Canton High School graduate.

Armed with a winning style and a knack for strong finishes, Schmitt established a new Olympic record in the 200 freestyle while also swimming the anchor leg of the gold-medal 4x200 freestyle relay as well as the freestyle leg of the world-record setting 4x100 medley. She also claimed a silver medal in the 400 freestyle and a bronze in the 4x100 meter freestyle relay.

In August, Schmitt made her first hometown appearance since Christmas in 2011, where she was greeted with throngs of fans at a homecoming at Heritage Park.

Schmitt already has her sights set on 2016, looking to build on an Olympic dream that she hopes is far from over.

Follow Allison Schmitt's road to gold here.