Dara Torres: 40 Is the New 20
Posted on July 7, 2008
Filed Under olympics, Sports, Women | Comments Off on Dara Torres: 40 Is the New 20
This determined Olympic swimmer is proof that (1) life doesn’t end at 40, (2) a baby doesn’t have to slow you down; and (3) when it comes to any goal, it’s all about how bad you want it
Friday, this mother of a 2-year-old girl looked like a kid again herself — waving an American flag on the pool deck — in making an unprecedented fifth Olympic team, winning the 100-meter freestyle in 53.78 seconds at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials.
“I was shocked when I touched the wall,” Torres said. “I couldn’t see the scoreboard. What does that say? They need to make those numbers bigger for people my age. I’m shocked. I don’t think it’s hit me yet, a fifth Olympic team. . . . I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. I’m thrilled.”
With her victory, Torres has become the oldest American swimmer to qualify for the Olympic Games. She began her Olympic career at age 17, when she qualified for the 1984 Olympics and won a relay gold at the games. She then went on to qualify again in 1988 and 1992.
Torres has won nine Olympic medals in her career, including the gold in 1984, a bronze and silver in 1988, a gold medal in 1992, and two gold medals and three bronze medals in the Sydney Olympics in 2000 where she was the eldest member on the team at 33 years old.
She was the first American swimmer to attend four Olympics and as of Friday, will become the first to attend five. We will be watching and cheering. You go girl!
