Dara Torres-Amazing

George, I'm not reffering to "most Masters swimmers" in my post above. I am reffering to the best Master's swimmers in the entire world. Huge difference. As you know, these men and women were all at the elite level, in their respective events, in their peak younger years.

You seem to be mixing facts to your personal opinions. Most Masters swimmers I know are competitive swimmers, not recreational. No recreational swimmer I know puts in 3-5K workouts 3 or 4 days a week. I think we have to differentiate between "competitive" and "professional." Dara has been a professional level (i.e. paid to swim and train) athlete off and on for 24 years. She can afford to train as much as her body and mind are able to, and clearly that is a lot, judging from the NYT profile of her methods. She can also afford to spend $100,000 per year on her training, and chooses to. The most competitive swimmer I know, who has multiple masters world records and has been named Swimmer of the Year, still "only" swims 2-4 hours a day, five days a week for part of the year (90 mins a day for other parts of the year). This person could probably afford to spend 100 grand a year but chooses not to. I think the combination of Dara's training methods, focus and financial resources are unprecedented in a 40-plus female athlete/swimmer... so who really knows what other women could be accomplishing, at even younger ages?

Mark Foster, sometime masters swimmer, age 38, just went a 21.96 LCM 50 free (lifetime PR) several weeks ago. His performance would be a more apt comparison to Dara.

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

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. 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.

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:duel::duel::duel: I am just a swimmer who likes to play in the pool and get a sun tan. I may be a real swimmer in August, then maybe not. Fort I thought you were a runner not a swimmer. Oops no running on a bad ankle, you must be a swimmer. Thank you, I didn't think I was making it up. George, I am not a recreational swimmer. You are.

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.

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.

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?