LOS ANGELES • Five-time Olympic gold medallist Missy Franklin, who had surgery on both shoulders this year, will miss the swimming world championships in Budapest next month.

Franklin, who won four golds at the 2012 London Games before coming away with only one in a largely disappointing Rio Olympics campaign last year, told NBC Sports she made the decision in consultation with coach Dave Durden.

"If I had a deadline to try and get better by, we were really worried that that would rush things and that could really impact the quality of the therapy and the work that we were trying to do getting back," the 22-year-old said.

"I think both of us were very concerned with quality and wanting to make sure that we're doing the best that we can right now.

"I want these shoulders to last me for a very long time. I really don't want to rush anything. It's been so nice for me to get back in the pool at my own pace.

"If this is the step back I need to take in order to take three forward, then that's exactly what I'm willing to do."

The US selection meeting for the world championships takes place from June 27-July 1 in Indianapolis. The world championships will be held from July 14-30.

Franklin followed up her scintillating London Olympic performance with six world titles at Barcelona in 2013.

But in Rio she failed to make it out of the semi-finals in the 200m freestyle and 200m backstroke. Her lone gold came in the 4x200m freestyle relay.

Franklin had surgery in January to address bursitis in both shoulders.

In the meantime, she plans to devote her time to SafeSplash Swim Schools and the USA Swimming Foundation's "Make a Splash" programmes.

She also wants to "have the most average 22-year-old summer I can possibly have".

"I've never had a normal summer before," Franklin added.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE