Dara Torres-Amazing

It doesn't seem like most people would want to rely on the second of those options. Here's a few who have taken the second route - Landis, Ricky Williams, Ben Johnson, a couple of baseball players this year, the whole Cincinnati Bengals team, every bicyclist on the planet, Michelle Smith, it's a rather endless list.

If the testing is random, how do you know when to take them in order to be clean for testing? Even if they flush within a few days, if you take them today and get tested at home tomorrow...you're toast. No? Correct. The only way it would work is if the drugs were undetectable by current testing or you just got lucky on the timing of the random tests. It doesn't seem like most people would want to rely on the second of those options.

Should we really compare Dara to Angel Martino? Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Martino test positive for testosterone and was kicked off the 1988 Olympic team? That is true, however she served her suspension and was eligible to swim once that was over. She made 2 Olympic teams (1992 & 1996) and in 1992 swam to a bronze medal in the 50 Free and was on the gold medal 400 Free Relay. In 1996, qualified for the same 3 events that Amy Van Dyken did and swam to a bronze medal in the 100 Free and 100 Fly and was 4th in the 50 Free. She beat Amy in the 100 Free to give Amy a forth to go along with the 2 golds in the 50 Free and 100 Fly. Angel also swam on the 2 gold medal relays. The reason I bring her up is because before 2000 she had more Olympic medals than Dara did. Amy Van Dyken also had more Olympic medals than Dara did and these swimmers swam the same events that Dara did as well as Jenny Thompson.

I thought the whole point of these new age wonder drugs was to allow mega training, quick recovery and quickly out of the blood stream. The benefit is therefore realized on race day, even while no longer detectable.

SCYfreestyler, Perhaps you are right. Perhaps since Dara really never "owned" an event like the great ones she swam against which were her peers in the 80's and 90's. This is her way of "owning" her piece of history in the sport.... i.e. through longevity. Note, I say great in the sense of Tracy Caulkins, Mary T. or Janet Evans. John Smith I'll buy that. In any case, if somebody has the competitive drive and can muster enough performance to actually make an Olympic Team...I say why not.

SCYfreestyler, Perhaps you are right. Perhaps since Dara really never "owned" an event like the great ones she swam against which were her peers in the 80's and 90's. This is her way of "owning" her piece of history in the sport.... i.e. through longevity. Note, I say great in the sense of Tracy Caulkins, Mary T. or Janet Evans. John Smith

Should we really compare Dara to Angel Martino? Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Martino test positive for testosterone and was kicked off the 1988 Olympic team?

I don't know..... sometimes I wonder what is to be gained by making 5 Olympic teams vs. 4 Olympic teams ? John Smith I can see what you are saying...you've made 4 what is one more, right? Well, I think more important than just making it onto another team is the fact that she will be doing so at the age of 41. The ability to span this period of time and still remain dominant in your speciality event is something to be proud of for sure.

Dan, You assume a lot of rational thought in the mind of a cheater. It's not all about weighing the risk for them, its about the winning, the ego, the acceptance, the public recognition......etc...... Is her freestyle stroke great...... hell yes. I could probably point out a few flaws in the race, but they are easily overcome by her upper body strength in her stroke. The issue was never whether she was or is talented. The issue on this thread is........... "the edge". I don't know..... sometimes I wonder what is to be gained by making 5 Olympic teams vs. 4 Olympic teams ? John Smith

I have to say that if Dara is cheating, she has some incredible confidence and balls to deal with the scrutiny she faces already. She is practically inviting the drug testers into her life. Either she has the very best blood chemists working for her or she is clean. I believe there are cheaters who probably can beat most tests. Obviously many cyclists think they can. I just don't think the cheating game is so good that cheaters are confident enough to not fear tests at all. I believe Dara is clean and close to a freak of nature. I watched her 50M free win on Youtube and have to say her freestyle is a thing of beauty and power. He freestyle looks like the best of men, not any straightarm windmill like many women have. Dara's technique is beautiful. Combine perfect technique with optimized training and genetics and you have a winner.