Dara Torres won three silver medals in Beijing at age 41, serving as an inspiration to middle-aged people everywhere. But she couldn't possibly keep it up through the 2012 Games in London, could she?
Actually, she's not ruling it out. In an appearance on HBO's Costas Now, Torres said flatly that she is not retired, and that she might just be in the pool in London.
"You have to put it in perspective," Torres said. "I am 41. No one in their 40s has swum in the Olympic Games and medaled before."
So will she be back in four years?
"At 20 you can say, 'Oh, I'll do this another four years.' But at 41, almost 42, you have to take it day by day," Torres said. "I'm not sure yet. I'll probably hit menopause by then. I don't know what to expect. But I am giong to try for the world championships this summer and then see what happens after that."
When Bob Costas asked if she was ruling out 2012, Torres said, "I've learned to never say never. ... I love competing. ... I'm still improving, so why not keep going until I've hit my peak?"
It sounds crazy to think that Torres will still be an Olympian at 45. But not that much crazier than 41.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
