Dara Torres-Amazing

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. I do wonder what Dr. Laura thinks about what Dara is doing. What group of women is she scolding? Women who work? Liberal Women? 41 year old moms who swim fast at Olympic trials? Women who can't bake? Of course, there are women (and men btw) who do not focus enough on their families, but broad generalizations should be avoided. Again, every situation should be evaluated separately and only after all the facts are known. I hear Dara makes an awesome oatmeal raisin, though, if that helps.

This isn't a court of law. It's a discussion forum. You don't need to continue to tell us she hasn't tested positive. We know that is a fact. There are shades of gray here, no harm in discussing it. It would be one thing if we did this on our own but since she was the first to openly acknowledge it, there is no issue with us talking on it. I will admit that my position is eroded since a co-conspirator just admitted to watching the latest Rocky movie. You're right it isn't a court of law.....but I am just curious how you would try and convince 12 jurors that your suspicions about her are true...... I am pretty open minded about all of this.....but with the lack of anything suspicious other than her fantastic swims....I still lean towards clean.

If you are unconventional, best not! It's great marketing. Dara is, hands down, the best speaker among our elite Olympians. If only Ryan Lochte could take some public speaking sessions from her and quit his incessant mumbling, maybe he'd make some more money. This lay low stuff is ridiculous. This is her time to shine. Toastmasters. :agree:

I'm with Geek on this one. I don't look at any of the top swimmers as role models or heroes. In fact, I don't believe in heroes, other than the kind one might also call grinders or subs. I'm a big believer in them. I am in awe of the top swimmers' swimming achievements, but that's it. Agree 100% (scary) I'm amazed that people who don't know someone personally would publicly state the person is a role model? A great athlete, with a ton of money who's work is training/competing/ modeling, single mom living with her boyfriend and a nanny...role model? I can see where some would be envious of the high life but role model?

Sorry for this but I really really can't stand Dr. Laura. She's awful and a gigantic hypocrite. OK, I'll return to the topic now, that being that the Smiths are a gang of two thugs.

...No one should be able to do a lifetime best after age 40 :shakeshead:....quote] If you could barely swim two lengths of a 25 meter pool when you were young, it's very easy to do lifetime bests after 40! :drown:

If you are unconventional, best not! It's great marketing. Dara is, hands down, the best speaker among our elite Olympians. If only Ryan Lochte could take some public speaking sessions from her and quit his incessant mumbling, maybe he'd make some more money and be better appreciated. This lay low stuff is ridiculous. This is her time to shine. Fort...way to put it! Why do we have to be conventional? People that stick to these thoughts are usually left behind when it comes to opening up their potential and exploring what the world has to offer them.

I would add Katie Hoff to the list of spokeswomen. No eggs from me btw.

Come on Jim you know no one trying to discuss this topic is making this argument...you've purposely left out every single other key element ties to the skepticism some of us had...your far smarter than that so play fair. The accurate way to say what you said based on this long discussion would be; "It's questionable but possible that a 41 year old former elite female athlete after a 7 year layoff from swimming, an 18 month comeback, two surgeries, a completely redesigned physique can not only do a lifetime best but set 2 AR's and such an athlete in spite of undergoing testing should and is aware that people will question such accomplishments based on the drug culture that continues to grow in the world of sports" But y'all keep leaving out the other facts....yes she took time off from competing....but she worked out the whole time......did not take all that time off away from the pool...she swam all the way up to the day before giving birth....was competing very shortly after that birth.....and as far as her physique...I found pictures from back in 2001 where she is standing next to Gabby Reece and Tommy Lasorda....makes them both look pretty puny as far as the guns go......I just don't see this drastic transformation y'all are talking about.

It's called humility and I, myself, need to be more that way. Isn't humility all the more important in folks that have a chance like Dara to be among the best? What is she not being humble about? If you need more humility, go get it then but that doesn't mean Dara is wrong for doing what she feels and is capable of doing at this point in her life.