Dara Torres-Amazing

Seriously, you two need to get a room, over at the Stick It Inn. Paul might be getting jealous of this extramarital flirting. Ha... he's not my type. You on the other hand are looking mighty purty in that pic! Isn't that you on left?

Ha... he's not my type. You on the other hand are looking mighty purty in that pic! Isn't that you on left? Technically he is both...they do have the same DNA!!!!

I get what you're saying but would counter that it's still relatively new (as in this has all come about in the last 30 years or so) that women can be freely athletic. I have quite a few women friends who never played any sports. They don't have any idea what the human body is capable of. They see themselves as victims of their bodies as opposed to the one in control. I think sports, and women sports role-models are especially important for young girls. To see that women can be successful athletically is hugely inspiring. 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. Very well put. Many women in their 40's and up just say, pffft, I cannot get into shape, I am too old. Now we all know women who are in shape at that age, but in the general population there is a sense of, I can't do that. Dara, and the woman down the road from me that runs road races at 75, and anyone else who is successfully fighting the fact that we don't have to get fat and fluffy in our 40's, 50's and beyond are good role models.

and anyone else who is successfully fighting the fact that we don't have to get fat and fluffy in our 40's, 50's and beyond are good role models. I don't understand, the drive to stay in shape is the sole requirement to be a role model? Look at her public life and tell me if that is really something you want to emulate. Having just spent a week with a pro athlete who has a single minded dedication to his wife and family and only speaks to his "day job" when asked I can say I've seen a person much more worthy of role model accolades. No entourage, no goofy amino routines, kung fu videos, etc.

I don't think any athlete sets out deciding to be a role model. In fact, I doubt they really care what people think, they just want to do their sport. Lesser sports, you might be right but in the pro ranks it's all about what people think, the flash, the bling, the cars, houses, girls, etc. They are obsessed with their image.

I don't understand, the drive to stay in shape is the sole requirement to be a role model? Look at her public life and tell me if that is really something you want to emulate. I think the problem here is the definition of "role model". To me, the term can be used to say that someone is modeling something admirable without meaning their entire life is perfect. No matter whether you think Dara is neglecting her family, you have to admit that she is a shining example of a woman who knows how to work her butt off. That doesn't make her a saint, but it does make her someone positively modeling that being a forty year old woman doesn't disqualify women from being athletic. It's another example that women can still have some kind of life outside the home.

How many think Lance Armstrong is a role-model? He, in his autobiography, sounds like one cocky dude. I don't think I'd like him much as a friend but I'd still call him a heck of a role-model for cancer patients. He's inspirational and a great example of someone who really battled cancer and won.

That doesn't make her a saint, but it does make her someone positively modeling that being a forty year old woman doesn't disqualify women from being athletic. It's another example that women can still have some kind of life outside the home. Damn you and your well stated thoughts! I agree.

I think the problem here is the definition of "role model". To me, the term can be used to say that someone is modeling something admirable without meaning their entire life is perfect. No matter whether you think Dara is neglecting her family, you have to admit that she is a shining example of a woman who knows how to work her butt off. That doesn't make her a saint, but it does make her someone positively modeling that being a forty year old woman doesn't disqualify women from being athletic. It's another example that women can still have some kind of life outside the home. What she said. Dara shows that you can do something that people say you cannot do because of age. If she is clean, it is much more meaningful. We do not know if she is neglecting her family. I imagine many of the significant others of Olympic athletes of any sports are feeling a bit of the "neglect" syndrome right now. To compete at such a high level takes time. And if you are saying, that she simply should not be taking that time now because she has already been in 4 Olympics, is at an age where she should stay home and bake cookies, well I happen to disagree. Have you never done something, or learned something or tried something....because you can? Because you really want to? I admire the drive it takes for a 41 year old woman to 1, stay in the kind of shape all her life to make this possible, 2, stay in shape through her pregnancy(which by the way is GOOD for the baby), 3, work hard to get back into shape after the pregnancy, and 4 not let the world define what age is too old to compete. Are there other women in this world who are equally as admirable and not as public and maybe have better balance in their lives? You betcha, and they deserve to be role models as well, maybe more.

*Happy Birthday FINA: the international federation was founded a century ago today* How come FINA will not let my gender swim the 1500 in a pool race when that is the length of JUST the swim on the women's triathlon in the Olympics? Are women so fragile that we would fall apart competing in the 1500 meter pool event in the Olympics? It's embarrassing that women are restricted like this in swimming yet compete in more grueling events lasting two hours long in other sports. Maybe I should extend FINA an invitation to come live with me in the Land of the Dark Ages.