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Dara's Dream
Topics: Beijing, Olympics, swimming, sports
Posted by DougAnderson Thu Aug 23, 2007 19:57:20 MDT
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Pocatello, Idaho (August 8, 2007) -- In what may be the most commercial Olympiad in the history of the modern era, with the eyes of the swimming world on Amanda Beard and Michael Phelps, one of the most marketable athletes just may be Dara Torres, a 4-time Olympian with ties to the Gem state.

 

“Don’t put an age on your dreams.”

 

Having turned forty in April and just sixteen months removed from delivering a daughter, Torres is back in the pool hoping for a fifth trip to the Olympics.

 

Torres’ goal is to make the Olympic team in the 50-meter free and a possible spot on the 4x100 relay team.  She had two first place finishes at last weekend’s U.S. National Championships.  At the natatorium on the IUPUI campus, the Parkland, Florida resident touched first in the 100-meter freestyle and then followed that with a similar finish in the 50-meter. 

 

“It’s an awesome feeling,” said Torres, “I can’t put words on it to describe how I felt when I touched that wall and saw my time.”

 

Finishing second and third were Amanda Weir and Dana Vollmer, both Olympians, their ages together totaling that of Torres. 

 

Torres has fifteen national championships, nine Olympic medals and was the first American to swim in four Olympics.  She may be fast at forty but the real achievement is the back story.

 

In a conference call preceding the one year countdown to Beijing, USOC Chairman Peter Ueberroth put the Games into perspective. 

 

“China will step forward and bring the Olympic Games to the world, unparalleled, [the] most important sport event in my lifetime.”

 

The man who organized the 1984 Los Angeles Games described the Beijing version as “huge” and “spectacular;” words which could also define Dara’s dream.

 

“I’ve had so many people come up to me and say they’d love to see a 40-year old make the Olympic team, so if it inspires others, then it’s reward for me, too,” said Torres. 

 

That would mean ending her second retirement.  After seven years away from the sport, she earned five medals (two of them gold) in Sydney, Australia.  She was 33 then, now she’s 40.

 

Sixteen months ago, Torres gave birth to Tessa Grace.  Today she schedules lap work between naps and with the aid of a nanny.

 

“It’s hard to leave her.  Sometimes I definitely feel selfish, but when I am done in the afternoon, the rest of the day it’s just me and her.”

 

“If you look at her, she doesn’t look like a normal 40-year old,” said her coach, Mike Lohberg. 

 

In 2005, the former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model was pregnant and looking for a way to stay in shape while suffering through six months of morning sickness. 

 

“There were some bad days in the pool,” said Torres, “thankfully the pool had a big gutter system.”

 

This past weekend, the flat-stomached Torres showed she’s regained her Olympic form and dropped the 36 pounds gained in pregnancy.

 

Her mother, Mary Lu Kauder, lives in Ketchum.  Torres is a familiar visitor to the Wood River Valley.  The motivational speaker and product pitch person loves to ski in Sun Valley.  She has also spoken to local youth about her Olympic experiences.  Her proud mother was in the stands last week for the two first place finishes.

 

“Do you realize how many years I have been doing this?” said a joking Kauder.

 

“It’s a combination of God-given talent, of being tough as nails, of having a complete understanding of what it takes,” said her Coral Gables Swim Club coach.  “She has the will to accomplish anything.”

 

“I make myself keep setting goals and I never think of saying ‘I can’t.’”

 

With the eighth fastest 100m this year, the oldest U.S. swimming gold medalist in history knows skeptics will suggest performance-enhancing drugs.

 

Her response is to pursue additional steroid testing so there’s no question she’s competing clean.

 

“It’s not that big of a deal to get tested,” she said from Indianapolis.

 

She’s been tested three times in the past twelve months and is also providing blood samples that can be stored until there is a reliable test for human growth hormone. 

 

“The only [reason] I’m doing well is because I’m training hard,” said Torres.  “It’s worth it.”

 

That’s a message I’d like my daughter to hear, she turns eight on Friday, a lucky number in Chinese culture.  There’s a reason the opening ceremonies are scheduled for 8-8-08.  At 8:00pm.  With a worldwide television audience which could exceed four billion, viewers may once again get to see Dara chase her dream.  At 41. 

 

The U.S. Olympic swim team will be determined next June at the Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska. 

 

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