Dara is at it again!

RE: Dara is at it again!

hrietz — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 12:27:57 GMT

And at it again. She won the 50 meter freestyle in 25.00 (meet record) in Monaco as part of the Mare Nostrum swim series. She beat Jodie Henry and Alice Mills of Australia. Next up is a sectional meet in Florida and then US Nationals.

RE: Dara is at it again!

Former Member — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 10:13:46 GMT

She inspires me that age is no limit to what you can achieve! She's like fine wine....better with age. I love the fact that she is also a mother and able to train at the level she is. More inspiration! I've always pulled for her....she was my idol when I was a teenager....then an adult and now a "40 something" mom! YOU GO GIRL!!! That looks good in print but sometimes does not play out so well in life. Not everybody can have a comeback like she has. It's more than just sheer determination...there are physiological factors at play here as well. Having said that, it is quite inspirational and as I have said before, quite an advertising option for USMS should she actually make the team.

RE: Dara is at it again!

hrietz — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:22:57 GMT

not sure if it was her first ever, but her first masters meet after having the baby was scy nats in Coral Springs last May. I think she might have been 6 weeks post-partum, if that, and only did relays. She was incredibly fast and, darn her, incredibly skinny!!! Actually it's even more incredible because it was only about 3-4 weeks. The baby was born on April 18th and I believe Nationals were May 11th-14th. She waited two weeks to start swimming so basically she had been in the water two weeks or less and she goes a 24. Totally amazing!!!

RE: Dara is at it again!

swimr4life — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 08:03:02 GMT

That looks good in print but sometimes does not play out so well in life. Not everybody can have a comeback like she has. It's more than just sheer determination...there are physiological factors at play here as well. Having said that, it is quite inspirational and as I have said before, quite an advertising option for USMS should she actually make the team. Genetics, physiology and many other factors definitely come into play for all as we age. She does prove that it is POSSIBLE though!

RE: Dara is at it again!

rtodd — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 08:02:17 GMT

reminds me of Gail Devers who had a baby and came back to win the 60m hurdles at the Millrose games this past February at age 40. A use Dara as inspiration in my training. I don't like being beaten by women. I deeply admire women who can beat me, but just don't like it. If she can do a sub 25, than I am sure going to try!!!! I still have a long way to go, but I think I'll get there.

RE: Dara is at it again!

swimr4life — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:52:26 GMT

RE: Dara is at it again!

Former Member — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:50:52 GMT

RE: Dara is at it again!

Former Member — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:28:26 GMT

Maybe Dara should follow Amanda's lead forums.usms.org/showthread.php Will someone second the motion? Shouldn't her baby, Tessa Grace Torres-Hoffman be named Stacy? youtube.com/watch AJ not sure if it was her first ever, but her first masters meet after having the baby was scy nats in Coral Springs last May. I think she might have been 6 weeks post-partum, if that, and only did relays. She was incredibly fast and, darn her, incredibly skinny!!!

RE: Dara is at it again!

Former Member — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:56:07 GMT

... She started competing again in Masters meets, and it makes me very proud to know our organization could offer her a way to get the competitive juices flowing again for this incredible run at an unprecedented 5th US Olympic team. Does anyone know when her first masters meet was?

RE: Dara is at it again!

Former Member — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:34:08 GMT

Was that meet LCM or SCM? Long Course

RE: Dara is at it again!

Former Member — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 06:07:48 GMT

Was that meet LCM or SCM?

RE: Dara is at it again!

aquaFeisty — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:00:29 GMT

RE: Dara is at it again!

Former Member — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 14:01:17 GMT

Both of her times absolutely blow my mind. She is within 2/10th of her PR. She is redefining what is possible in terms of athletic performance at an older age. I think the other factor that is interesting to note is that maybe a swimmer "adjusts" to the level what his / her competitors are performing at. In the 80s - 55 seconds was considered great - she swam 55 seconds. In 2000 the times were right around 54, which was the level of the top swimmers in the world --- if she can go 53+ next year she would again be right where the competition is this time around. You saw the same at the Worlds in the 200 Free. The World Record before was 1:56.6 or so -- and most of the women seemed stuck at 1:57s. One person swam a WR in the Semi and all over sudden another 3 broke the old - long-standinf record within 2 days.

RE: Dara is at it again!

hrietz — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 10:18:31 GMT

AND the next night she went a 54.61 in the 100 meter freestyle. I think that her best from 2000 is in the 54.4 range. I strongly believe that a 54.61 will be good for at least 6th place in the 100 at Trials. This is so exciting!!! I think that I'll have to incorporate 1.5 hours of "vigorous stretching and massage" into my routine as well...

RE: Dara is at it again!

Former Member — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:16:17 GMT

The thing I love about Dara's most recent comeback is it really seemed to start with Masters swimming. This time around, she is over 40, still fit and still fabulous - and a mother as well. She started competing again in Masters meets, and it makes me very proud to know our organization could offer her a way to get the competitive juices flowing again for this incredible run at an unprecedented 5th US Olympic team. I wish her well - her Masters swimming fans are cheering!

RE: Dara is at it again!

swimr4life — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 08:40:01 GMT

RE: Dara is at it again!

Jeff Commings — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 03:49:46 GMT

It's scary to think about the improvements she's made since worlds in Stanford last year. Then, I thought her shot at the Olympics wasn't promising. Now, I'd be an idiot to not bet on a place for her. It looks like she's now eligible to participate in USAS meets. I wonder when she's going to go head-to-head with some of the American women. This summer at nationals?

RE: Dara is at it again!

ande — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 02:55:26 GMT

way to go she's right where she needs to be that's what I thought it might take to make the team her improvement is remarkable if she keeps improving she might make top 2 Ande AND the next night she went a 54.61 in the 100 meter freestyle. I think that her best from 2000 is in the 54.4 range. I strongly believe that a 54.61 will be good for at least 6th place in the 100 at Trials. This is so exciting!!! I think that I'll have to incorporate 1.5 hours of "vigorous stretching and massage" into my routine as well...

RE: Dara is at it again!

Former Member — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 16:44:57 GMT

Pretty awesome indeed! Assuming she makes it to the 2008 team, imagine the possibilities for USMS advertisement. LOL I don't know how my post ended up here... but way to go Dara!

RE: Dara is at it again!

Former Member — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 16:32:29 GMT

Pretty awesome indeed! Assuming she makes it to the 2008 team, imagine the possibilities for USMS advertisement.

RE: Dara is at it again!

knelson — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 12:44:20 GMT

Her time was actually faster than what Coughlin went at Worlds. The only US woman to be faster this year so far is KLJ.

RE: Dara is at it again!

FlyQueen — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 12:14:13 GMT

She is amazing. I would LOVE to see her on the 08 team, what a rockstar! That should get Coughlin, Joyce, Weir, etc all pretty darn scared and motivated, not to mention the other female sprinters in the world.

RE: Dara is at it again!

Allen Stark — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 12:13:37 GMT

WOW:bouncing::bouncing::bouncing:

RE: Dara is at it again!

Former Member — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 11:15:10 GMT

All I have to say to Dara after that swim... "Git R Done"- LTCG