US swimming sensation Dara Torres and is winning short-course events at the Olympic trials this week. But she’s doing more than that. She’s proving that the age barrier can be broken in a demanding sport like swimming.
At the age of 41, she is competing against elite athletes half her age. And she’s winning. She won the 100 M freestyle and as of tonight she won the semi-final for the 50M.
She’s qualified for her fifth Olympics and is set to smash records of age and number of Olympics attended.
The song “American Woman” is being played when she swims. Expect to see her charming face on the cover of magazines in the next few months. Even if she doesn’t win an Olympic medal, she will still be a big-time winner.
As a swimmer, I am both thrilled and nervous about this achievement.
Thrilled because it’ll be great to see Torres become as role model for young girls - as opposed to Britney or Paris who are role models because they are young women behaving badly.
Nervous because age is - or at least, was - the ultimate excuse for under achievement. Now, what’s my excuse?
What a great story. But I know what you mean — if women in their 40s suddenly start achieving feats of athletic greatness, how do I explain why I don’t want to go spinning today because “I’m old and achy.”
Here’s to her! I only learned how to swim when I was 25, and by my calculations, that was only a couple of years ago. (Whoops, that might not be exactly as advertised. Math was never my strong suit.)
Thank god I am no athlete. I can enjoy my old crotchettiness in peace.
I am in awe of Ms. Torres. I’m planning a post about her also.
She’s only 41. That’s not old…is it?
It just goes to show that despite general perceptions Spring Chickens can swim … I’m 46 and thinking about taking a run at an Olympic gymnastic medal … because lots of things can fly (oink)
I love watching swimming, especially at the Olympics. I hope the post events online or something so I can partake without a telly.
I don’t know, Barry Bonds was doing amazing things for a man in his forties not that long ago :}. No one seems to be idolizing him these days.
I can’t imagine training for 5 olympics as a swimmer…Must take an incredible amount of dedication.
Jacy, I’ve taken the summer off swimming to contemplate this heady subject.
Eva, yes, it was only a few years ago, by my calculations
Trixie, thanks for the link, great post title
Barbara, I like you just the way you are, don’t you dare change!
Monkey, I’ll visit you later
Dick, couldn’t have said it better myself
Tonardo, I don’t know, I think there’s an elite athlete in there somewhere.
Allison, I love watching swimming too. I’m sure there will be stuff online
Chance, I hear you. The optimist in my is hoping that these allegations will not prove true, but alas we live in cynical times.