Since I am in the Dixie Zone, I was perusing the results of meets this weekend and saw that Dara Torres, who turned 40 on Sunday, went 21.91 in the 50 free and 48.34 in the 100 free this weekend in St. Petersburg this past weekend. I guess that she is serious about this comeback. It will be interesting to see how she can do long course.
Since I was at Y Nationals, I looked up results to see how she would have done against the men. There was one 31 yo who was faster in both the 50 and 100 and a 45 yo who was faster in the 100 by a small amount. Pretty incredible.
Once Dara retired the last time, she signed a retirement form in essence. If a swimmer decides to un-retire, they must notify FINA and USA swimming about their intentions to try to compete at the elite level again. Once this has happened, they are put back on the drug testing list. Before they can compete in swim meets for their respective federations, they must go through a nine month waiting period.
Her 9 month period will be up sometime this summer or early fall. The rule requiring her to wait only applies to USA swimming not masters swimming. That is why she hasn't been in any USA meets. I actually met her masters coach in Coral Springs in Dec. He said once the waiting period is over, she will be in USA meets.
Interesting. So what happens if Dara sets an American Record in say, the 50 free, while she is still in the 9 month waiting period?
Once Dara retired the last time, she signed a retirement form in essence. If a swimmer decides to un-retire, they must notify FINA and USA swimming about their intentions to try to compete at the elite level again. Once this has happened, they are put back on the drug testing list. Before they can compete in swim meets for their respective federations, they must go through a nine month waiting period.
Her 9 month period will be up sometime this summer or early fall. The rule requiring her to wait only applies to USA swimming not masters swimming. That is why she hasn't been in any USA meets. I actually met her masters coach in Coral Springs in Dec. He said once the waiting period is over, she will be in USA meets.
Interesting. So what happens if Dara sets an American Record in say, the 50 free, while she is still in the 9 month waiting period?
