In an earlier post Fitness At All Ages we had Dara Torres featured, and on the brink of becoming the oldest individual in the history of the Olympics to compete for the US in the 50-meter freestyle and the 100-meter freestyle.
Dara Torres continued her stunning quest at the trials Saturday night –she earned a spot in the 100 freestyle Friday night. 41-year-old Dara Torres also set a US record in the 50-meter freestyle (24.25 seconds).
Torres, who last held the American record in the 100-meter freestyle 20 years ago, defeated Natalie Coughlin — the current holder of the national standard — in Friday’s championship heat to become the oldest American swimmer to qualify to compete in the Olympics. The honor isn’t anything new to Torres, who held the previous distinction at age 33, when she captured four of her nine career Olympic medals at the 2000 Sydney Games.
“To do what she’s doing now is amazing. I can guarantee you won’t see me swimming when I’m 40,” said Phelps, who was a teammate of Torres’ at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. “I’ve been calling her my `mom.’ At 41, with a kid, it’s extremely impressive to have her come out here and win the 100 free.”
Time and time again we are provided examples of what the mind, human spirit and commitment can do for us. A fantastic job by Dara Torres and an inspiration. Good luck in the Olympics!
22 users commented in " Dara Torres "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackYay Dara! Awesome inspiration.
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@IzzyBeth,
Awesome indeed!
-Mark
Very impressive! Another example of what we can do if we set our minds and bodies to it. It’s a gret reminder to all of us that we shouldn’t be limited in our beliefs of what we can do. They become obstacles to our success in whatever life dreams we want to accomplish.
@Lance, You are absolutely right on!
Thanks for the feedback!
-Mark
I was so excited when I saw this – it truly shows that there are no limits to what hard work and dedication can do for us. If I have even a small fraction of her abilities when I turn 41, I will be happy.
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@Jenn, I agree!
-Mark
GOGOGOGO DARA!
Im so praying not to be disappointed later as I was a hardcore Marion Jones fan back in the day.
sigh
Miz.
@MizFit, I am with you, hoping that it stays all good!
Thanks for the feedback!
-Mark
She really does make you realize that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. No excuses.
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@FatFighter,
The mind is key!
-Mark
I’m so glad to hear she made it. What an inspiration!
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@Rachel. I agree!
-Mark
She’s SO inspiring. And look at those amazing muscles she’s got!
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@Sagan, No question about that!
-Mark
I’m right with MizFit — I’m so psyched about what Dara is doing and I just don’t want to see that inspiration crushed. I loved Marion back in the day — I love most runners 🙂 — and it hurt when she was caught doping.
BUT — I’m thinking positively about Dara and I look at that and see a woman who is making it happen! I will be root, root, rooting for her starting 8/8/08!
@felicepd, I am with you…..keeping a positive attitude! Thanks for the feedback.
-Mark
Absolutely amazing!
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@Mama Zen, Yes!
-Mark
She’s amazing. I should be watching.
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@Jennifer, the Olympics are next.
-Mark
Truly an amazing woman. She is not only an inspiration to those of us trying to get in shape… but also to those of us who are mothers to young toddlers! Makes me feel silly when I think of all the times I used ‘having kids’ as an excuse not to work out.
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@Tigerlilly, definitely an inspiration for mothers of toddlers and anybody.
-Mark
I swam professionally in H.S. and my first year in College. I miss it. This is inspiring. Maybe it is time to go back to it….
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@Claudia, that’s great! Thanks for the feedback!
-Mark
This is such an amazing and inspiring story. I’ll have to blog about this, too… 🙂
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@Fit Bottomed Girls, I agree!
-Mark
Did you see over at Yahoo! news people are already speculating about whether she is doping or not.
@john,
When an athlete performs at such an incredible level, many people immediately start to speculate. Unfortunately we have seen many athletes found to have been doping. Also, many accused have not been found to be doping.
More from the San Francisco Chronicle:
Torres couldn’t talk the dirty-Dara rumors to death, so she went to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and begged to be subjected to every drug test they have or can devise, ongoing.
Now Torres and a few other athletes, including Michael Phelps, are tested extensively in a pilot USADA program. Palmeiro, Jones and others talked the talk; Torres drops the drawers.
If not drugs, what is Torres’ fountain-of-youth secret? She is a gifted athlete, but also a fitness commando who never stopped training full-tilt in a variety of activities, even during so-called retirements. Her cross-training regimen amazes Lohberg, who says, “She does things that border on Cirque du Soleil.”
I hope that doping is not the case, in the mean time I will look at the glass as “half full” not “half empty.”
Thank you for your comments!
-Mark
“Her cross-training regimen amazes Lohberg, who says, “She does things that border on Cirque du Soleil.â€
Like what? Come on now, please do share. What a tease!
I was a swimmer/sprinter for 11 years and to give you some perspective on how fast Torres is and how fast times have gotten….when I was 17, my age group record for the 50 meter free was 27.11….comepare that to Dara’s 24.25…wow! Add to that that she’s 41, double wow! She is really amazing. I can’t wait to watch the Olympics.
oops, sorry I should have added that my age group record was set in 1979…a LONG time ago…but still Dara’s THREE seconds faster over just 50 meters!
@Suzanne, I am excited as well…..thanks for the comments!:)
-Mark