Dara Torres-Amazing

So "innate ability" doesn't diminish over time? That's rather vague. I would think "ability," just like other things, would diminish at least somewhat over time? But techinque can be refined and perfected...:laugh2:

A quote from The Australian News.... One of the world's foremost swimming experts, Milt Nelms, does not question that Torres can be a better swimmer at 40 than she was at 20. He has watched his own partner, 1972 triple Olympic gold medallist Shane Gould, reproduce in her 40s what she did as a teenage wunderkind. Nelms, who has worked with Olympic champions Ian Thorpe and Natalie Coughlin, believes Torres will help push back the boundaries for athletes and weekend warriors. "The age thing is something we say and it's self-fulfilling," he says. "If you look at swimming, there's nothing really explosive about it, and if you have an innate ability it doesn't diminish that greatly (over time). "It's so much more about the nervous system, and what a 40-year-old person has is experience and physical intelligence, especially someone like Dara, who has taken care of herself and stayed active. Her two periods out of competition probably allowed her nervous system to restore itself from the impact of training. "Dara is physically gifted and very physically intelligent, and her capacity for work and self-discipline are exceptional. Even among professional athletes she's in the extraordinary class. She's one tough lady." Nicole Jeffery is a senior sports writer with The Australian. Sounds logical.

Just to lighten the mood here, check out this: youtube.com/watch and this: youtube.com/watch (Pardon the language) P.S. White Buffalo, got to know about your name. Is it a reference to Ted Nugent's song? (Awesome if it is, gottal love the Motor City Madman) P.S.S. Geek, Amen to the Costco reference. I love going to the supplements section and seeing 300 pound plus people gettig "fit".

Jayhawk's example of the forged birth certificate is still cracking me up. Me too, Fort. I'm going to alter mine to say I'm 70...that should get me a NQT next year.;) As a novice, I have no opinion on dope/no-dope. Last year my daughter and I watched the Tour...thankfully she forgot about Landis quickly. Wednesday, however, she was sitting in the stands with me, watching Torres perform. She's into swimming (came to two finals sessions w/ me) and now knows many of the top names in the field. I'm nobody's fool, but I'm hoping for an outlier. I don't think watching sports heros going down in doping flames is good for the kids, or any of us.

Geek- You do realize that flip turns are a no-no for Tri athletes, don't you? They'll be a no-no for me tomorrow...I cracked my heels last niight...trying to avoid the lane line due to sharing the lane, I took my eye of the wall and "DONG" thankfully it was aluminium not the tile like the indoor pool.

Geek- You do realize that flip turns are a no-no for Tri athletes, don't you?

This thread is exhausting (although not so much as to drive me to a Tri forum)...possibly even exhausted. It will be interesting to look back on it though as time marches on, Olympic Trials come and go, and Beijing 2008 arrives. I can certainly see the reasons why one would question her performance at this age, but until there is some proof I am going to have to give her the benefit of the doubt. After all, she has been rather upfront about drug testing. If she is hiding something she is doing a very good job of it.

In the end, there's really no difference between taking performance enhancing drugs and wearing fins in a race. It's artificial.... and its cheating. Legalize drugs for athletes if you want....... just make sure you put an asterisk next to their names in the record books. John Smith The problem is someone will still try to hide it to not get an asterisk. Even "clean" bodybuilding competitions are won by a guy who got around the tests.

In the end, there's really no difference between taking performance enhancing drugs and wearing fins in a race. It's artificial.... and its cheating. Legalize drugs for athletes if you want....... just make sure you put an asterisk next to their names in the record books. John Smith

White Buffalo....... you will never convince those who just want to believe. John Smith That's probably the best summation John. Belief: in honesty and in people. Some call it naivety etc. I don't know for sure, but each are entitiled to their view. To me it's like trying to prove, iron-clad, the existence or non-existnece of a Deity. I don't know for sure, but each are entitiled to their view. We can see how easily tempers fray and acrimony arises when opposing camps try to "prove" their view is right. Debate is good...name calling, not so much.