Dara Torres-Amazing

First there was the alleged breathing disorder Seem's to be a lot of this going around with athletes these days: "Why do so many athletes use asthma inhalers?" www.thefinalsprint.com/.../

.....in this day and age, I think not. Really, you sure about that? I have yet to see an article that says she has asthma. I have seen many articles that says she has a breathing disorder. How do you explain all the athletes suddenly diagnosed with asthma since the last Olympics? How do you explain that?

Dara Torres became a faster, stronger, smarter athlete after she turned 40. Here, she dishes the secrets of speed and fitness that allow her to spank competitors half her age. www.bestlifeonline.com/.../The_Body_Creating_Ripples.shtml

Who wants to hear about a 19 year old swimmer killing themselves for the Olympics when you have the ANOMALY of a 41 year old mother spending sugar daddy money on her compulsion? I was under the impression that Dara was being paid by private sponsors. She also had a somewhat lucrative modeling career in the past, not to mention money from previous sponsorships due to her Olympic success and fantastic looks. She might have invested her income well. She also comes from an extremely wealthy family (grew up in Palos Verdes, CA) and I believe her father recently passed away (inheritance)? So, I wouldn't assume that her boyfriend is funding her efforts, though I don't know for sure. And even if he was, who cares? She's proven herself to be worthy of investment, and he's the baby's dad, so it's good for his kid, too.

What's really interesting is the chart at the end of the article. None of those countries are what I think of as swimming powerhouses. (No offense, George.) It would probably have been more illuminating to see the oldest swimmers from the Aussies, Yanks, and, more recently, the Dutch and French. Skip

Tell me again what her boyfriend does for a living or is that ex-boyfriend now? I predict it will become increasingly hard to explain her numerous "nutritional" anomalies. First there was the alleged breathing disorder, now the amino acids. What's next? Yet another surprising factoid, or is it?

Rich, Agreed, except Mark does not do the 100 and has not had 12-13 years off, surgery and a kid over the last two Olympics in which he participated. Mark is great but he is not doing his career best times even with the new rubber suits let alone setting times equal to an AR. John Smith Perhaps he should have retired twice and taken some time off. Dara's joints and body in general may simply be less worn out than Mark. The wiki says: "He made a remarkable comeback at the national championships in July 2007 winning both events he competed in after barely training. He did the fifth best time this year in the world at 50 meters freestyle and hinted he may continue." Note the barely training comment. He has chosen to not race the 100 in some time but who knows how fast he is? Dara clearly is focused on the 50 though she is more than capable in the 100 as she showed at Trials. But Foster's recent 50M time is very very fast and would have placed him 5th at the US OTs. He is as fast at 38 as Lezak is at 32 and a few tenths from relative youngsters like Weber-Gale and Cullen Jones. I would guess that many 20 yr. old college sprinters who lose to Mark would scratch their head and wonder how they were beaten by a guy 18 years older than them.

I tried the amino thing for a few months, forget it. You have to take copious quantities and I saw no change. It was 10 huge horse pills a day. Sorry, while it might have some negiligible benefit it's not the panacea that is advertised. Interesting how little tidbits are coming out now. Wonder what might be next?

Actually, Mark's recent 21.96 was a career best, and also a new GB record. However, he is further away from the mens world record than Dara is from the womens world record. I think you're right. I thought he had broken 22 previously.

Ridiculous. Spoonfuls of amino acids in powder form don't even compare to the amount in food. I'm skeptical about this being her "little secret" as well. I'm no expert, but I've tried on a very short term basis taking L-Glutamine and/or an amino acid powder that were supposed to help recovery. I didn't notice any difference whatsoever. I realize she is taking them in mass quantitites, but still.