Dara Torres-Amazing

It's not as if Dara was a bolt of lightning out of a clear blue sky. Chris, That is a really great quote... it paints a very vivid picture, thanks.

I saw Dara last weekend at the Missouri Grand Prix meet. I had binoculars and looked at her (and all of the other female competitors) as she stood behind the blocks before the prelims of the 50 Free. There were at least 10 heats, so there were plenty of other swimmers standing nearby. Now keep in mind that I have been following this thread for quite a while, so I was very interested in her appearance and how she compared to the other athletes. In terms of muscle size, "cut" of muscles, and so on, Dara didn't look any different when compared to the other female athletes. Her shoulders and upper arms didn't stand out at all. I was actually surprised that she really didn't stand out. The only thing I noticed was that even in goggles and a cap, you can tell by looking at her face that she is obviously much older than the other athletes. Dara does have a superb stroke. It surprised me to see that at least one of her feet seems to come completely out of the water when she kicks. Kara Lynn Joyce also has a beautiful stroke, and it's deceptive. She doesn't look like she's going as fast as she is. Anna Lea

do these raise an eyebrow? estaticos01.cache.el-mundo.net/.../1186324071_0.jpg sportsillustrated.cnn.com/.../t1_shealy_ap-01.jpg

We simply do not know enough to say for sure one way or another, so this is all just pure speculation. What Dara Torres has done is not out of the realm of possibility for an undoped 40-something. Look at Susan Von Der Lippe with much less training. It isn't as if Dara was a bolt of lightning out of a clear blue sky. I don't think Dara is any more (or less) likely to dope than her competitors, so I'll just enjoy the races at face value unless something changes.

Like others, I don't find past clean tests to be terribly conclusive. But, although I am skeptical and not naive, her photos don't look out of the realm of a ripped clean athlete to me. It's her age that awes me. It would be interesting to do an experiment where masters swimmers who train a fair amount also use her massage/stretching recovery tactics. For example, if someone like Ande followed this regimen in lieu of earning a living, would he go from elite master swimmer to smashing all of Tall Paul's WRs when he turns 45?

The reason I have not had a bunch of pictures of me taken diving in. My muscles are finely cut and I don't want anyone saying I am on steroids. Look at cut arm muscles. Just added my new avatar of finely cut triceps.

I hope that's true logic would make it seem that way but some have an at all costs / ends justify the means / don't get caught attitude I doubt a 41 year old woman would risk her life by taking harmful substances. She looks that way from proper nutrition and years of hard work.

So how do you explain any athlete doping? I don't know about those people, and I'm certainly not going to provide excuses for them. The vast majority who benefit from sport should not be disillusioned because of other people's short-sighted decisions. Be proud to have your health!

I understand both sides of this, but I guess that the presumption of innocence seems to me, at least, to trump the pictures, even if that doesn't sit easily. I can't wait until we get to argue about genetic manipulation in the very near future... The "other" Dara Torres: www.sports-wired.com/.../Dara_Torres.html -LBJ

You know I watched every second on CNN. Big Mac to me is Brian McNamee and he is very little in stature and I question his ability to tell the truth. Tell a lie once change the lie to get you out of jail because of secret offers, means little if the second lie is false. I have no idea what you are talking about. Big Mac is Mark McGwire but I think you mean Brian McNamee, Roger Clemen's personal trainer, who you have accused of hearsay by saying he personally injected Roger with the juice. Clemens admitted he gave himself shots of B12, at his mother's urging. Did you watch or read the testimony?