A hat tip to my pal Gifted Typist, who wrote about this incredible inspiration to us all. Dara Torres is a 41-year-old competitive swimmer and just qualified for the Olympics after coming out of retirement to raise her daughter. I loved how she couldn’t see the scoreboard after she’d won due to her aging eyes and wasn’t sure she was first in the 100-metre freestyle.
Given one of my big sports fantasies is to beat some young hottie at Wimbledon or win the Tour de France — both at the age I am at right now — this story really moved me.
And it’s about time we made household name heroes out of FEMALE athletes, no? Because if this was a guy, he’d be on the cover of magazines in the coming weeks.
July 6, 2008 at 9:47 am
As a former competitive swimmer, this story blows my mind. Not only is she kicking major ass at 41, but her times are seriously, ridiculously mind-blowing. I don’t know if any of you have ever raced before, but to swim 100 meters in 53 seconds is pretty fucking unreal.
Sadly, Michael Phelps and his quest to break 8 records or whatever it is will get the press. That’s not to say that that press is unearned- Phelps is an amazing athlete in his own right.
I guess my issue is that swimming, as a sport, doesn’t really get any attention until the Olympics come around. But having swam for 10 years, I understand that in a way- swim meets are insanely boring to watch, especially when there aren’t any medals at stake, I guess.
Also: as much as I want to watch the swimming this year, I can’t do it, as I’m boycotting the Beijing Olympics. And it’s killing me, son!
July 6, 2008 at 11:16 am
I was excited to see an article on this in the Los Angeles Times. Then my excitement turned to dismay, as the article seemed to focus more on doping allegations than on Torres’ accomplishments.
There were some great quotes, though, where Torres acknowledged the rumors and stated that she should take them as a compliment to her swimming abilities. She sounds like a really quality human being in addition to a world-class athlete.
July 6, 2008 at 11:27 am
“And it’s about time we made household name heroes out of FEMALE athletes, no?”
you mean for something other than ripping their shirts off on the pitch or posing nude? whatta concept!
July 6, 2008 at 11:40 am
@KateMiller: Hi, lady! Welcome to BCP :)
July 6, 2008 at 1:47 pm
I’ve been following this lady for the last year and was really sorry to see her not getting the credit she deserves. They did a story on her for I believe, HBO Sports, and the emphasis was not on how amazing it is that she is swimming better NOW than she did as a youngster, but on how she used to be a model (a damned inspiring beauty, but still). She also loves to race cars.
I’m sure she’s more than ready with the quick quips to the press with regard to whatever method the haters will try to tear her down. I look forward to her being the darling of this Olympics, and Trix, I’m right there with you in the inspiration factor…my mind is officially blown.
July 6, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Mine too. Love this story.
July 6, 2008 at 4:06 pm
What an incredible, inspiring woman!! She is leading with a wonderful example that excellence lies in finesse, technique, and savvy training…not solely in stength and youth. I am truly humbled when I think how she has combined this level of achievement with the many responsibilities of an ADULT LIFE, wow!
July 6, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Oh, God, how I needed this story! Hurrah!
July 6, 2008 at 10:35 pm
She is an awesome woman. And kudos to her for having the gumption to actually reply back to the haters who want to focus on negatives, instead of the positive fact that this is what a REAL role model should look like.
July 7, 2008 at 7:37 am
It will be fascinating to see how this narrative plays out in the press. It could go two ways. They could do what they so often do to attractive female athletes – sexualize her which takes so much away from their achievements. But America needs a new kind of hero right now. This woman qualifies on so many different levels. MAybe, just maybe.
July 7, 2008 at 9:14 am
Have you seen her 41 year old body? Good lord. She’s an inspiration all the way around.
July 7, 2008 at 11:06 am
@Bowling: I am in awe of this woman – her body, her attitude, her determination. AND she’s had a baby!! Simply amazing. I should put her picture over my jar of Double Stuff Oreos, it might shame me into a little discipline over my cookie habit.
July 7, 2008 at 11:09 am
Hortense — my husband and I had the very conversation, re: swimming – boring or thrilling? Did you see the one race that 2 & 3rd place finished .01 from each other? TELL me that’s boring!
Torres is taking all the doping speculations so gracefully, with her “thanks for the compliments” rebuttals.
July 8, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I can do 100 meters, but my time is closer to about 5 minutes…
Yeah, she rocks
July 9, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I don’t think being skeptical about Torres’ performance is being a hater — it’s looking at human biology and asking, “Why is this woman swimming better at age 41 than she did at age 20? And after having a baby? And after admitting to paring off 15 pounds of muscle?”
Sure, Torres is doing things that no other peer in her sport does: she’s got that $100K/yearly entourage with the two stretchers and the coaches and the masseuse, so her is probably one of the best-tended bodies on this planet. Her training regimen is doubtlessly a big factor. But it’s not unreasonable or being a hater to ask if that’s the only factor.
After Marion Jones, Barry Bonds, Floyd Landis and Roger Clemens, the lesson I took away is that anyone in any sport can dope, no matter what they swear they’re doing differently.
As far as lady-swimmers I hope the media focuses on — check out Amanda Beard! Making her third Olympic team without a huge training entourage!
(Am another former competitive-swimmer-turned-swimming-fan.)