There is no question that competitive sport is dominated by athletes in their late teens and twenties. Swimming, particularly women’s swimming, is a sport where you can be a has-been by the time you are twenty. Imagine the surprise and wonder-particularly for those of us over the age of 40 when Dara Torres not only qualified for her 5th Olympic swimming team, but she did it in the 50 Meter and 100 meter freestyle-the two sprint events in women’s swimming.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/swimming/index.html
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=d0c102c3-30a0-4797-858a-b09e359
Oh yeah, did I mention that she is a 41 year old mother of a two year old little girl?
It is just an amazing story. I don’t know if Dara Torres will add to her medal total from the 4 previous olympics, but to qualify in the sprint races against women young enough to be her daughter is just mind-blowing.
You GO girl!
Don’t worry, this is not enough to get me to trade in my rugby boots for a Speedo…that would NOT be a pretty sight.
can i make friend with you??