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.
I think Sir Charles would disagree with this statement!!!!! :woot:
Certainly, you know that CB changed his opinion on this topic about a decade ago.
dorothy - again, be careful of slipping into a comparison of what she is doing to your average 41 year old person. She is a pro athlete, this is her job and basically has been her job her whole life. She is not you, nothing like you, other than being a mom and a swimmer. She has fashioned her entire existence around this one item. Because I play golf on the weekend doesn't make me Greg Norman (who is leading the Open as of this morning).
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.
Can't argue with this point. I do think we are in an age where we have gotten beyond women having no choice but to stay at home. In fact, I believe we are seeing a return to more women staying at home than in the 1990s. More and more, we are seeing women in high-powered jobs make the decision to give up their career and become stay-at-home moms. It would be interesing to find out why they have done this, but my guess would be for the well-being of their children and family.
It would be interesing to find out why they have done this, but my guess would be for the well-being of their children and family.
DANGER, DANGER!
Living with a woman with a high powered job I could absolutely not disagree with this statement more.
Oh yeah, I like to swim, to keep it swimming related.
Certainly, you know that CB changed his opinion on this topic about a decade ago.
dorothy - again, be careful of slipping into a comparison of what she is doing to your average 41 year old person. She is a pro athlete, this is her job and basically has been her job her whole life. She is not you, nothing like you, other than being a mom and a swimmer. She has fashioned her entire existence around this one item. Because I play golf on the weekend doesn't make me Greg Norman (who is leading the Open as of this morning).
Oh Geek, that avatar, oh my. And hey, you can pretend to be Greg Norman can't you?
Anyway, I know. But I bet a lot of the average women in the world think that the kind of fitness that I have, that Fortress has, that any of the women that manage some sort of fitness is unatainable, they cannot do it, they are too old. My point is Dara brings to the forefront in that nope, a 40 something can stay at the top of their game, what ever that level is. Will I, or anyone like me ever be like Dara, nope, I realize that, but aging does not have to mean you cannot strive to be the best that is attainable for you.
Dang, Gobears seems to get what I am trying to say, but says it oh so much better.
As far as women working, being high powered, being a SAHM, I say we should have the freedom to do what we feel fit to do without anyone judging us for it.
The name of the thread, Dara Torres - Amazing means we don't necessarily discuss if she is doping, we discuss whether she is amazing or not. Actually very much in the eye of the beholder.
Me, I will cheer for her and all our Olympians next month, and not just swimming, it takes a lot to be at that level for anyone and I admire that.
As far as women working, being high powered, being a SAHM, I say we should have the freedom to do what we feel fit to do without anyone judging us for it.
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Would be nice! And sticking to the subject, I wonder if people would have judged Dara harshly for not trying to make the Olympics after she had such a fantastic swim at Worlds in 2006.
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?
Because your a chick and us guys run FINA (FINA = French Idiots Know All)
Are women so fragile that we would fall apart competing in the 1500 meter pool event in the Olympics?
Probably, then we'd have to cook dinner ourselves...possbily even the dishes
It's embarrassing that women are restricted like this in swimming yet compete in more grueling events lasting two hours long in other sports.
Save those two hours plus for childbirth, sex & sleep (in a particular order)
Maybe I should extend FINA an invitation to come live with me in the Land of the Dark Ages.
No, ask for an exemption to use inhalers and be a stay at home mom.
Hardly her entire existence.
I guess my reading comprehension isn't what it used to be since that is what every article/new story has said about her, including what her partner or husband or whatever says about her.
Dorothy - nicely stated, I see your point better now.
Have you never done something, or learned something or tried something....because you can? Because you really want to?
Nice point! Just because someone is 40+ doesn't mean their life has to be all drudgery and sacrifice. Most moms I know seems to obsess about their kids 24/7 and do virtually nothing for themselves, contrary to what Elise has observed. Doesn't seem particularly ideal for them or the kid, to me.
Why would someone have judged Dara harshly for not trying out for the Olympic team? I don't get this point ... And it seems to contradict your prior point about Dara being criticized because she doesn't fit "society's" notion of proper behavior for 40 somethings ...
