Dara just one the national title in the 100M Freestyle in 54.4 at the ripe old age of 40. Simply Incredible. :applaud: :woot:
If that's not inspiring I don't know what is.
While her time of 24.56 is impressive, there are many faster or equally fast times from non-Olympians in her age group and even in older age groups. If she exercised regularly during her uncomplicated pregnancy and was in amazing shape, the time is not too surprising. It looks like she then dropped over 2 seconds speedy quick.
I'd say more like 3 seconds. While a 24.5 is impressive for a 'normal' woman of her age, I'd say it's utterly unimpressive for her.
My understanding was that women normally lose their sprinting ability before men. Which is one of the reasons why her performance is so surprising.
We can use the word "surprising," can we not?
I think elite athletes in most sports should be subject to random, unannounced drug tests throughout the year. Not just at competition events but at any time. This is the only way to catch athletes that might otherwise time their use of PEDs to avoid positive tests at races.
It also puts fear into athletes that they could be tested at any time.
Consequences of a positive, proven, test should be severe. I am not convinced lifetime is appropriate on first offense - mostly because I am not 100% confident in the operations of leading testing labs. Although Floyd Landis' positive test was ultimately confirmed - his appeal showed the lab in France was run poorly. Samples were not protected at all time, etc.
For Paul - what do you think of Dara's very proactive position on testing? As a doubter - do you just believe she is just incredibly confident that her regimen is foolproof and cannot be caught by either today's or tomorrow's testing? Is she just willing to risk it - and the complete disgrace that would occur if she fails a test next year?
If her blood samples show a positive result five years from now she would be stripped of any Olympic medals and any records would be withdrawn. Just as with Marion Jones. Perhaps worse, medals won by teammates on relays would also be stripped. A positive test would probably carry a huge negative impact to her professional life - whatever it is - at the time.
My answer is let them use what they want.
The USA track and field association did their testing but always hid the results. So if you don't give out the results why test.
Paul do you think anyone really cares when you are in the search for gold.
What I am saying release the results and if they are using kick em out or don't bother testing.
It has been a fact losers complain they must be on something. They never say what a great swim or run.
Wrong George. This whole thread is about "QUESTIONING" Dara based on her performance and physical transformation.
Answer me this....do you support random, year around drug testing for all swimmers?
If you answer yes than you show suspicion, if you answer no than you support your position that all is good in the world and cheating doesn't exist and we should all shut up.
What's really sad...and pathetic is when people respond in this manner..like Jansen and Geo as well...just because some QUESTION an otherworldly performance in sport.
...
Believe what ever you want to believe...but don't twist the words of those of us who question
But at least swimmings clean...at least according to the vast majority of posters on this forum.
Paul, you should really heed the posting advice you gave me earlier in this thread. There seems to be a fundamental difference in the way you and I think. You call it, "burying my head in the sand," I prefer to call it simple optimism.
Seriously, why watch sports if every time somebody does something unheard of, I jump to the conclusion that there is something underhanded going on? There is evidence against the cyclists we have been talking about (even if it is flimsy evidence in Armstrong's case), but so far, there is zero evidence to say that Torres is cheating. If there is some, I will be glad to admit I am wrong! I have yet to see evidence that any swimmers, that we look up to, are cheating. With the exception of the recent Chinese swimmer and the East Germans back in the day, I haven't heard of a single swimmer getting busted for drugs.
The best part of that article...
The animals' red blood cell counts did indeed double in 10 weeks -- a potential boon for marathoners and other endurance athletes. But the monkeys' blood became so thick that it had to be regularly diluted to prevent heart failure.
Perhaps the cheaters will suffer life altering/ending consequences.
Interesting article: "Dara Torres, Demystified" by Amanda Schaffer at Slate.
Thanks for pointing out the story. Author seems to say that "methinks thou protesteth too loudly."
When I raced my standardbred race horses. We would claim them in claiming races.
They were so loaded with junk that our vetrinarian would have to bleed them to let them produce fresh untainted blood. Sometimes when they were bleed their blood was like thick syrup and it did not flow.
Just think of the damage that can be done to humans.
