Dara Torres-Amazing

I read elsewhere that Spitz's attempt was not very serious, and if he had gone for a training plan like Dara's I would expect that we would have heard that. Do we know much about his comeback training methods? I just read the new Mark Spitz biography. It describes his comeback in some detail. I don't have the book in front of me so I'm relying on memory. I believe Spitz started his comeback at 41. He retired after the 1972 Olympics. His comeback was the result of a seed being planted in him, which got his ego and competitive fight going. He saw a few older swimmers still swimming fast and he decided to give it a try. It was serious for a while and reached 10,000+ yards per day for a while. But it degenerated into some made-for-TV races in the 50M fly. I think he raced Rowdy but lost. Spitz started his comeback at Dara's current age.

Are these not individual? Maybe they are leadoffs on a relay, I don't know. Sourced from Wikipedia. 25.69 Dara Torres January 29, 1983 Amersfoort, Netherlands 25.64 Annemarie Verstappen July 9, 1983 Amersfoort, Netherlands 25.62 Dara Torres August 5, 1983 Clovis, California 25.61 Dara Torres July 21, 1984 Mission Viejo, California

For anyone interested, there was a nice little story on Dara on the CBS news w/Katie Couric tonight (July 7). This story was in the last 5 min (the entire broadcast is here): www.cbsnews.com/.../main3420.shtml For those who use iTunes and/or an iPod, the CBS news is podcast for free, after the West coast feeds play.

The forum commissars have massed, convict this woman! I mean OMG her partner is a endocrinologist, that is all the evidence that is needed. Send her to Siberia, lock her up and throw away the key. :frustrated:

The ever moving meaning of words, the adaptation of words and semantics to the present "politically correct" age. Husband-lover-boy friend, and now partner. What the hell is partner? Isn't that when you and another person own a business together? Why can't the real word conveying the real type of relationship be used? My wife has an anesthesiologist as a "partner", does that mean she uses a anesthesia machine to help her sleep every night? hehehe.....the majority of endocrinologists know something about diabetes, are good at weight control, and should be well informed about most diseases of the endocrine system. From there to being able to prescribe or maintain a doping scheme to enhance performance is way further down the road.

Personally I'd like to believe. It's such a feel good story, and she seems so nice. There are many masters swimmers who've made the 'come back', and have done extremely well. But nothing like this has ever happened before. There's only one flying pig in the air at the moment. When there are more, the consensus may turn around.

I read elsewhere that Spitz's attempt was not very serious, and if he had gone for a training plan like Dara's I would expect that we would have heard that. Do we know much about his comeback training methods? So you aren't just questioning why she's better than the younger women but also questioning that she's better than other 41 year olds? Are there any other 41 year olds that are training at the same level? Spitz's comeback was legitimate in terms of his training, yardage and commitment. Due also note that Mark had the financial resources that many swimmers do not have to support his quest. While Mark's times were respectable for a masters swimmer, they were no where near Jager's and Biondi's. Yes..... I already noted that Dennis Baker is a man in his 40s who trains very hard and has very respectable times for the 200 fly. He was an elite level participant at Nationals in his day as well. He is unable to make cuts in this event.... but only by a hair. Dennis' accomplishments in the 200 fly for his age are oustounding in my opinion.

Are these not individual? Maybe they are leadoffs on a relay, I don't know. Sourced from Wikipedia. 25.69 Dara Torres January 29, 1983 Amersfoort, Netherlands 25.64 Annemarie Verstappen July 9, 1983 Amersfoort, Netherlands 25.62 Dara Torres August 5, 1983 Clovis, California 25.61 Dara Torres July 21, 1984 Mission Viejo, California So, Paul and John, These three World Records....whether they be relay lead offs or individual does NOT matter.....on those given days and until the next person bettered that mark Dara Torres was the fastest woman on Planet Earth. Would you agree that at that time she owned the event? I personally believe that she owned those events, but then I am also an optimist and believe she is clean.

No wonder some of you over 40 guys can't do it. Too much time on the forum.

Slipping into semantics Tracy, OK she "owned" the 50 record for 18 months 1983/1985....but what we are saying is that "owning" an event is in the realm of YEARS...Phelps unbeaten in 6 years holding the record that entire time, Carl Lewis in track, Mary T in fly, Janet Evans in her distance events, Lance in the Tour...I would even suggest that Popov's 50 record held for 8 years is "owning" but debatable because as some have pointed out it was done in a time trial. For the record...not to many people holding on to the 50 free world record, and none that came back 18 years after they set it to equal or better (show me this is the case in any other sport?): en.wikipedia.org/.../World_record_progression_50m_freestyle She owned it from Jan to Jul of '83 - then from Aug '83 to Apr '86. Ownership to me means something different.....if I owned the WR even for a day that would be ownership....I understand your thinking of it as domination like Phelps and Evans. And on the last point I would say yes to agreeing to disagree....just because it has never been done doesn't automatically make it suspect.