Why Dara Torres rocks my aqua socks off
“The water doesn’t know what age you are when you jump in, so why not?”
—Dara Torres, who at age 41, is the oldest woman ever to make the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team
She earned her first gold medal at age 17, but on July 5, in Omaha, Torres set a new U.S. record time of 24.38 in the women's 50-meter freestyle semifinal at the Women's Olympics Trials. That means she qualified to compete in two individual events in the Beijing Olympics.
If that's not reason enough to be blown-away impressed, check this out: She's a new mom. And she battled bulimia for years while training for previous Olympics games... and beat it. I had the honor of interviewing her for Locker Room Diaries about it, and her candor and bravery were astounding. Here's the section from my book:
When it’s out of your hands
Olympic gold medalist and model Dara Torres didn’t have a choice when it came to getting on the scale: Her swimming coach insisted. It started at age 18, when she was a freshman at the University of Florida. At first, since weigh-ins were held on Mondays, many of the swimmers, Torres included, would starve themselves on Sundays. When their coach learned of this, instead of getting the girls help (what a silly idea!), he decided to weigh them twice weekly. So, the self-imposed starvations simply doubled. Then he started with the surprise weigh-ins, little pop quizzes. How could the girls keep up?
Torres found a way. She became bulimic.
At 6’0” and 155 pounds of mostly muscle, she was still being told to shed pounds, so that she would look intimidating on the starting block. During draining training swims, her coach would actually pull her out of the water and feed her chocolates for an energy boost because she was so fatigued from purging in an effort to make weight.
Today [in 2006], after nine Olympic medals spread out between 1984 and 2000 (she retired for seven years in between), Torres speaks out about her eating disorder and battle with the scale. During her retirement, she weighed herself only once or twice, when she was gearing up to serve as the first female athlete to pose for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Now, at 38, when speaking to teenagers, she encourages them not to be ashamed about reaching out for help. She’s happy that the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the governing body of all collegiate athletics, currently advises coaches to avoid frequent weight and body composition checks. And she never weighs herself.
“There’s no reason,” Torres said. “I don’t want to become consumed. I don’t need that stress in my life.”
Watch Dara compete in the 50m Freestyle and the 4x100m Freestyle Relay, starting August 9. For updates on Dara's events, visit NBCOlympics.com for more information.
Comments
Damn.
That's all I have to say.
Damn.
my sisters and I were jumping up and down, screaming and crying when she won . . . she is AMAZING!
Dear Dara,
When I grow up I want to be just like you!
Your fan,
Gena
Dara is awesome, but she looks like she might discus throw that baby out the window in this pic!
Whoa muscles!
she is beyond awesome and for some reason you giving her your THUMBS UP makes me give a sigh of relief.
marion jones? you broke my heart.
Miz.
That's just so incredibly inspiring--I'm with Gena, I want to be just like her when I grow up!
That's just so incredibly inspiring--I'm with Gena, I want to be just like her when I grow up!
That's just so incredibly inspiring--I'm with Gena, I want to be just like her when I grow up!
She is such an inspiration - makes you realize that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. No excuses!
Oh my gosh-she's completely amazing!!
I love how powerful she is and her amazing muscles. She's so inspiring.
This woman is absolutely amazing. I must admit I'd never heard of her until a few weeks ago, but she inspires me and motivates me and I think she's wonderful. :)
Absolutely awesome indeed!
Dara is totally amazing. Her muscles make my jaw hang...Her perseverence is also inspiring. Can't wait to see her in Beijing!
yeah, that woman is amazing and I'm glad she's representing us in Beijing!! Maybe one day i'll have muscles like her *crosses fingers*
I loved watching her. She is one of the most inspiring women ever.
Although it may be a bit unpatriotic, I hope she kicks some Aussie butt at the Olympics, way to represent! How amazing is she?
I'd say it's something in the name, but my muscles look nothing like that.
Dara rocks!
Whoa, those are some serious muscles! Seeing swimmers always makes me wish I was a swimmer instead of a runner sometimes. I have great legs, but I have to really focus on my arms to get muscles like that. I really respect that she battled bulimia and is now recovered. That is SO awesome! I really hope she wins in August!
Dara
You inspire all women...You go girl!
Dara
You inspire all women...You go girl!
that is amazing, definitely an inspiration for all girls/women.
No words could ever express the happiness and relief of that very moment when you won. Good Job winning for you and your family. Determination and heart got you there. Youâre a strong women with a strong mind. GOOD LUCK.
I'm 6'0 and weigh 160, not as much of my weight is muscle like Dara but it is hard being tall, you'll never be that little petite thing like so many of my friends. It's taken years to accept who I am and wonderful inspiring women like this make it that much easier! GO DARA!
As I said in another article this woman makes ice melt. I'm so totally into this woman..she got me off my middle-aged butt. And I just learned that she actually beat Danica Patrick (who I love as well) in the Long Beach Celebrity road race back in 2002. How freaking cool is that?!!
shes
got what it takes to inspire us...I think she did it for me
got what it takes to inspire us...I think she did it for me
Dara Torres is the talk of the sports, fitness, health, and anti-aging world. Check out this unbelievable video that takes viewers back to the very moment the world first learned how Torres has been defying aging for the past 8 years. This is not a commercial or an ad. It's a very revealing news story.
http://growingbolder.com/media/sports/water-sports/41-and-still-smokin-181865.html
Rachel
I think she is fabulous for going after what she truly wants and taking the crap thrown at her in stride. Her age is seriously unimportant compare to her skill as an athlete and her passion as a mom.
