Torres' Tough Training Pays Off

Dara Torres' intense training methods have helped the 41 year old, nine-time Olympic medalist to qualify for her fifth Olympic appearance. On Friday night she won the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. Olympic Trials and on Saturday at the Olympic Trials she set an American record in the 50-meter freestyle, winning her semifinal heat in 24.38 seconds. Torres will swim in the 50-meter freestyle final on Sunday to attempt to qualify for a second event in the upcoming Beijing Olympics.



Torres celebrates setting an American record in the 50-meter freestyle.

Torres hugs Emily Silver on Friday night after Torres won
the women's 100-meter freestyle.

Dara Torres Turns Back the Clock in Bid to Make Olympic Team for Fifth Time

Dara Torres has already won nine medals in four different Olympic years (1984, 1988, 1992, 2000) but she is far from resting on her laurels: the 41 year old swimmer, who set the first of her three world records as a 14 year old in 1982, is employing a unique stretching and conditioning program that is enabling her to beat competitors who are less than half of her age. You can read all about her in this New York Times article by Elizabeth Weil.

Here is some visual proof of how well conditioned Torres is: