Dara Torres, the 42-year-old swimmer who won three silver medals in the Beijing Olympics last summer, is back at it again. Despite squaring off against people sometimes half her age, she continues to dazzle. The latest? She took down Jenny Thompson's six-year-old record in the women's 50-meter butterfly. This record was achieved in a senior circuit event, so the competition may not have been quite as stiff, but her time was still good enough for the United States record. Even more impressive for Torres, via her own Twitter page, is that she hadn't swam the butterfly since the 2000 Olympics. At all (again, according to her).
"Ok, this is too crazy but I just broke the American Record in the 50 fly this am! Haven't swum a lick of fly since the 2000 Olympics!!"Once a world-class athlete, always a world-class athlete, huh? Torre just continues to be an inspiration to aging athletes everywhere. Though it doesn't seem likely, we can't exactly count Torres out for the 2012 London Games -- especially since she's acknowledged it's possible.
Hat-tip: Game On
Dara Torres Photos
Dara Torres promotes her book "Age is Just a Number" at Bookends Bookstore on April 8, 2009 in Ridgewood, New Jersey..Dara Torres Signs Copies Of Her Book "Age Is Just A Number" - April 8, 2009.Bookends Bookstore.Ridgewood, NJ United States.April 8, 2009.Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage.com..To license this image (57159505), contact WireImage.com
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AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 05: Dara Torres after winning the Women's 50 LC Meter Freestyle during day one of the 2009 USA Swimming Austin Grand Prix on March 5, 2009 at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 05: Dara Torres swims in the Women's 50 yard Freestyle preliminaries during day one of the 2009 USA Swimming Austin Grand Prix on March 5, 2009 at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 16: United States Olympic swimmer Dara Torres skakes hands with Jose Molina #26 of the New York Yankees after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game against the Chicago White Sox on September 16, 2008 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 16: United States Olympic swimmer Dara Torres throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox on September 16, 2008 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 16: United States Olympic swimmer Dara Torres shakes hands with Andy Pettitte #46 of the New York Yankees before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game against the Chicago White Sox on September 16, 2008 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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BEIJING - AUGUST 17: Dara Torres of the United States arrives for the Speedo Athletes party at Wish on August 17, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Getty Images for Speedo)
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BEIJING - AUGUST 17: Dara Torres of the United States arrives for the Speedo Athletes party at Wish on August 17, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Getty Images for Speedo)
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BEIJING - AUGUST 17: Dara Torres of the United States arrives for the Speedo Athletes party at Wish on August 17, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Getty Images for Speedo)
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BEIJING - AUGUST 17: (L-R) Dara Torres, Rebecca Soni, Natalie Coughlin and Christine Magnuson of the United States show off their silver medals in the Women's 50m Freestyle final held at the National Aquatics Centre during Day 9 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 17, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-22-2009 @ 5:55PM
John Marshall said...
God bless her. I hope she wins medals at the 2016 games!!!!! She is a terrific inspiration to us baby boomers.
Reply
5-22-2009 @ 8:59PM
Hello Mono said...
Dara Rock's !!!! What a CLASS PERSON !!!! I wish Dara "ALL THE BEST" :-)
Reply
5-22-2009 @ 11:31PM
jessiedawns said...
wonder if she'll end up testing positive for steroids.......
Reply
5-24-2009 @ 9:34AM
loonpine2 said...
she won't.
5-23-2009 @ 12:56AM
hlee679862 said...
Is that a man?
Reply
5-23-2009 @ 5:31AM
Lakergregg said...
Unfortunately in todays sports world the possibility of a positive steroids test always looms in the background.What a shame that would be.
Reply
5-23-2009 @ 2:25PM
Me said...
She's wonderful. God bless her.
Reply
5-23-2009 @ 4:02PM
brian said...
These drugs are amazing.I wonder about the side effects though.....
Reply
5-24-2009 @ 8:17AM
Lercel said...
HEY JACKASSES GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DO..............
Reply
5-24-2009 @ 9:20AM
Gina said...
Gonna have to get these old bones of this chair and try sports again!
Reply
5-24-2009 @ 9:30AM
Master Motivator said...
I think she's cheating, you don't get better in physical sports as you get older. She's doping and maybe one day she'll get caught.
Reply
5-24-2009 @ 9:35AM
howasilv said...
someone called her a he in the article I guess proof reading is not part of this deal
Reply
5-24-2009 @ 10:23AM
smilesapak said...
" Even more impressive for Torres, via her own Twitter page, is that he hadn't swam the butterfly since the 2000 Olympics."
How about: "..is that SHE hadn't SWUM..." She herself used the correct tense on her Twitter page. Hey, article writers, how about a little proofreading?
Reply
5-24-2009 @ 10:33AM
georgechevy1 said...
American Pride! Way to go.
Reply
5-24-2009 @ 12:15PM
wjamesr said...
i do not believe for one second that dara torres is not using performance enhancing drugs...i have worked out my entire life and the FACT is one does not get faster and stronger as one ages...marion jones SWORE she wasnt juicing and you know what? torres is juicing...personally i dont really care, its just the lying starts to stink the place up a bit.
Reply
5-24-2009 @ 1:58PM
Hartspill said...
I WANT to believe she's clean and WIll until she's proven dirty....but I am always thinking in the back of my head that the other shoe is going to drop one day soon.....
Reply