Dara Torres-Amazing

I'm not saying Dara should be considered "Good Citizen of the Year" but her achievements might help more women believe in themselves a little more. I definitely agree with you and it's a great point. There are many fine women athletes for my daughters to choose from today, representing superb progress. If you have young girls in your house you might find she is irrelevant. I would hazard a guess that most girls under 15 have never known anything other than significant athletic opportunities. My girls found Hoff, Coughlin and Hardy much more interesting and appealing from a female motivational perspective. Torres to them was a side show, of sorts. A 41 year old mother who is in great shape is nothing new in our house but a cute college educated or high school swimmer is easier to relate to. I do see your point and it is quite valid, and appreciated.

Sorry, I really can't buy this at all. What makes her a role model - that she can train hard and dream? This is her job and it's a really cool sweet job we'd all love to have but that's really about it. I don't get the role model/hero status that people are heaping upon her. Everyone out there at trials has an impressive story, they just don't get the press and drag their kids on the podium. If you set aside the PED discussion I will gladly grant she is inspirational or motivational but is she someone you want to emulate, up to you I guess. I happen to be familiar with the mother of one of our Olympians. What she has done for the local swimmers and her family to support Olympic dreams is much more worthy of praise. When you see hundreds of people come up to her to thank and congratulate her, well that is much more of what a role model should be. Agree 100%. We don't have enough of that now! We don't hear enough about it. We have too many people making statements like this one, "I wasn't some Tammy Wynette Stand-by-Your-Man woman. I didn't just stay home and bake cookies." Proud to be a cookie-baker and a "Stand by Your Man" kind of woman!

I do see your point and it is quite valid, and appreciated. Thanks. I have only boys in my house so, though it's also good for them to see strong women (even unconventional ones), they probably aren't getting as much inspiration from any of the women athletes. Who knows, maybe they'll end up being comfortable around strong and athletic women as they get older. That would be a good thing...

You are now learning if you say anything from a conservative slant, you are tarred and feathered as someone who is not educated or stuck in the dark ages. Typical liberal ways of disagreeing. Welcome to the USMS forums. What a Liberal with all that whining! Smiths - hand over some hankies to Perry, he's bubbling up, people are mean to him!

Sorry, society still has these expectations I mention. They are not mine, but society's. Which is exactly why more women need to speak up about these expectations being outrageous! This is not "liberals bashing conservatives" as much as it is women not complying with outdated societal expectations. Thank goodness women don't have to sit on the sidelines while all the boys play all the sports because sports are not ladylike! There was a time when most "conservatives" thought that was the way things should be. Being pro-women isn't necessarily a "liberal" point of view, is it?

Which is exactly why more women need to speak up about these expectations being outrageous! This is not "liberals bashing conservatives" as much as it is women not complying with outdated societal expectations. Thank goodness women don't have to sit on the sidelines while all the boys play all the sports because sports are not ladylike! There was a time when most "conservatives" thought that was the way things should be. Being pro-women isn't necessarily a "liberal" point of view, is it? O.k. I've enjoyed being on this forum too much that I am going to be late for the meet. I'm pro-woman but I would say I'm conservative. I may just celebrate different things in a woman than some liberals might. I come from the Dr. Laura school-of- thought. I don't think she is in the dark ages, but she scolds women about not focusing enough on their families. Women do have a choice now and whatever they chose should be o.k. I do wonder what Dr. Laura thinks about what Dara is doing.

You are now learning if you say anything from a conservative slant, you are tarred and feathered as someone who is not educated or stuck in the dark ages. Typical liberal ways of disagreeing. Welcome to the USMS forums. Um, I believe Elise used the words "dark ages" and I simply agreed! :) ("I will admit I'm stuck in the dark ages.") And even us liberals bake cookies.

Now it is time to criticque her parenting skills. We have no proof of drugs. Next we will talk about any skin blemishes. I once saw a movie it was called the Never Ending Story.

No, couldn't bring myself to sit through that one.....Was he looking all plastic faced too? Along with the rest of the Hollywood Wax Museum folks.....

Just sign them up for the swim team at an early age. Most boys on swim teams will grow up getting beat in practice by at least a few girls. You get used to it, so it's not a surprise when it happens in your forties. LOL Well, considering my oldest can't kick freestyle to save his life (the evil-stroke genes from my side come honestly to him), I'm sure he'll be used to getting beat by girls in practice regularly ;) Got to get that kid some fins...