Dara Torres-Amazing

Hi Paul. This is Dave Swenson. I swam with John Smith at Texas. I know him well...probably too well. I also know Ande, Anna Lea, and probably a few others on this board. I finally got back into Masters swimming this summer after a LONG layoff....we'll see how long it lasts. DAVE!!!! Good to hear that you're back!!! I still have your autographed poster framed and hanging on my wall. It's the best swimming poster ever! Anna Lea

If yoy look at the AAU feed that was posted below from 1979, the body types of all the swimmers are vastly difference than they are today. All the women today are much stronger and muscular. I went to HS in the 70's, the weights were in the boys lockerroom at our school. Weight training was discouraged for women. I think weight training has made a big difference. Earlier (way earlier) I posted Cathe Freidrich's web site. In the 80's, she was much smoother, softer looking. Now in her 40's, especially filming this latest series due out in the fall, she is much bigger more defined. This series is all about hardcore weight training. In the 80's she did much more step videos, and her weight work was very light. There is a huge difference in her physique, and the difference is on par to Dara's. That last picture looks like she has dropped her bodyfat too low. I would think that if Dara is using something or had used something, it would be to get her through the extensive training, a recovery aid, not steroids. But again, I think she has a genetic gift, and I think Phelps has a genetic gift, and if he kept himself in shape for the next 20 years, he would be a force.

Fort, HC is toying with me...wants me to post really... I thought there was a lack of vapid ramblings from crazy British guys! Welcome back SS!

I'm not making assumptions. I'm deciphering the transmission that you made. Remember in all written communications but ever more so in e-comms. Meaning and interpretation are made by the reciever. It came over like you somewhat blamed athletes (or athletic lookers) for eating disorders, which possibly has some relativity via coaches. The stay at home mom thing being more respectable for an over 40 woman came over like neanderthal view...forget dark ages. Whether it's societal or your personal view. Again, if a guy was to (seriously) say that or something like "women belong in the kitchen" he'd be branded a sexist. I just pointed out that you show some sympathy for that in your posting. To both points I suggested the main problem is the way media portays women as goods, and depreciable assets who's value is linked to their size, shape, colour, etc etc. These are at the crux of societial influence on eating disoarders.

Fat Cows here is a guy who makes money selling his product called FAT COW www.fatcow.com/.../index.bml

I'm not a fan of fake boobs either. Although I'm a boob fan...after legs! :laugh2:

I don't think it's quite that simple. I think the "thin problem" is part of the "fat problem". If more people focused on health instead of "fat" or "thin" we'd be much better off. We all have different body types and the myth that we can all look like one ideal has caused many to just give up being healthy. Well put.

We've already had a good example of that - Jane Fonda. You really just opened Pandora's box. I am going to sit and wait for the vietnam vets and current military members to comment on what a great role model she is!

In the age of rampant disordered eating among teenaged female swimmers, do we want to be glorifying pictures of women with low body fat? The Sectionals championships are underway in Austin right now. Just like I have done for several years I watched dozens of heats of fast swimmers. I don't see rampant unnatural thinness. These teenage girls are fit, but none look like bulemic models. I have known some of these girls for ten years and the thin ones were thin when they were 10. I see no problem with pictures of women with low body fat. We have a fat problem, not a thin problem, in America.

In the age of rampant disordered eating among teenaged female swimmers, do we want to be glorifying pictures of women with low body fat? No, but pictures of women remaining active and healthy way into their 40's? Yes. Don't blame the epidemic of body image on athletes...you are joking right? I'd love to see what an olympic athlete eats on an average day. Body image is less to do with keeping fit and more to do with crappy media glory of virtually impossible 38-22-30. There's really only one reliable way to lose weight, and even then it's not going to tun you into a supermodel: Eat less crap, move about a bit more and stay active. Even if you're big you won't be as big and your internal health will be better. Elise, respectuflly, here and with earlier comments you made, you seem to add support to the "valuation system" for females and how their worth declines as the years and pounds go on,; or they have kids and then should morph into mothers with no life for themselves!