41-year-old Torres makes US Olympic Team

July 5, 2008 by Aubrey01

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OMAHA, Neb. Forty-one-year-old Dara Torres completed her improbable Olympic comeback, making the U.S. team for the fifth time by winning the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. Olympic trials.

Wearing goggles older than some of her competitors, Torres got off to a blazing start and guarded her lead on the furious return lap to win in 53.78 seconds. Cheering her on in the stands was her 2-year-old daughter, Tessa. Natalie Coughlin was second in 53.83 seconds.

“Hard work and perseverance” was her answer when asked afterwards how she defied the odds of an aging body to clinch a place on the USA team.

She was fast off the mark and took an old-fashioned turn midway while her younger team mates - some of them only half her age - took the more modern dolphin kick out of the turn. At race end, she squinted up at the clock and still did not know she had won until she was told. “I couldn’t see the scoreboard,” she said. “It must be my eyes.”

This is Torres’ second comeback. She competed in the 2000 Olympics after a seven-year retirement, and won five medals. She became a mother in April 2006, and then started planning another comeback.

Since her first international race at the age of 14, Dara Torres has proven that she is far from your average athlete. Outside of swimming, Dara has made a name for herself as a TV commentator and a print model and was the first athlete to appear in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue in 1994.

Her latest accomplishment will likely add more material to her inspirational speaking engagements. Dara Her topics include the following:Women’s Issues, Women’s Empowerment, Never Give up your Dream, You’re NOT to old to chase your dream, and The Olympic Experience.