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.
It has been rumored that the East German swimmers were impregnated and hit the abort button (i found several similar stories with a web search: www.snopes.com/.../doping.htm) in order that they may achieve gains brought about by natural increases of hormones. There remains the lack evidence to concretely depict the full scenerio back then and to prove or disprove its effectiveness.
However, the fact that pregnancy seems to provide women with a natural hormone enhancement beneficial to athletes seems to be well documented. It appears that our beloved DT was able to channel her energy during pregnancy to rebuild her swimming self and subsequently post-birth perform at the top of her game - and after that 50, at the top of THE game.
New training methods are as follows:
1). Before every practice...Duct tape a 20lb watermelon (or frozen turkey) to your abdomen. Melon is probably more sanitary.
2.) Train hard for nine months.
3.) Remove the swimming anchor during the taper period.
4.) Fly like the wind.
www.indystar.com/.../article
Here's another article about her:
sports.aol.com/.../20070801225909990001
...In fact, on the day she delivered daughter Tessa, she had been to the pool and lifted weights.
"I was feeling miserable that day," Torres recalled. "So I went in for a swim and felt so much better."
That night, she was a mother.
"Four pushes and she was out," Torres said. "I guess it was all those ab exercises."
...And here are a few other over-40 athletes who competed at the top level of their sports:
Aladar Gerevich (fencing)
The only athlete ever to win medals at six Olympics, Gerevich is also the only athlete to win the same event six times. In 1952, at age 42, he collected one of each medal at the Helsinki games. In 1956 and 1960 he collected two more gold medals to bring his total medal count to 10. His skills in fencing remain legendary as he competed at the highest levels into his 50s.
Matthew McGrath (hammer throw)
An Irish-American policeman who competed in four Olympic Games, McGrath took the silver medal in the hammer throw at the Paris Games in 1924 at age 45.
Eugenio Monti (bobsleigh)
The nine-time world champion in bobsleigh throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Monti won his only gold medals at age 40 for Italy at the 1968 Winter Olympic Games.
Martina Navratilova (tennis)
Perhaps the greatest female tennis player to pick up a racquet, Navratilova has the most wins ever on the WTA circuit, collecting a staggering 18 career major singles titles. At age 46, she won two major mixed-doubles titles in 2003 (the Australian Open and Wimbledon). All told, she has collected eight doubles titles since turning 40.
Oscar Swahn (riflery)
"The Oldest Olympian" competed in his first Games in 1908 at age 60, winning two gold medals and a bronze in shooting events. In 1912 he added another gold medal and a bronze, and in 1920 at age 72 he collected a silver medal.
“Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres, openly revealed their planned consumption of potent cocktails of chemicals with the intention of legally enhancing their performances.”
Would Gatorade count as a potent cocktail of chemicals? Or do I need to add vodka to make it a cocktail? And who would want to be consuming impotent cocktails? And for some reason most of the cocktails I consume seem to have detrimental performance effects; maybe I need to switch to RedBull and Vodka.
So, what Dara appears to have said is that she planned to take legal supplements. How is this cheating?
I plan to consume Yuenglings on the Saturday night at LCM Colony Zones...I intend to encourage others to do the same...So to paraphrase a famed San Diego researcher:
“SS, openly revealed his planned consumption of potent cocktails of chemicals (Yuenglings) with the intention of legally altering his performances.”
“Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres, openly revealed their planned consumption of potent cocktails of chemicals with the intention of legally enhancing their performances.”
Would Gatorade count as a potent cocktail of chemicals? Or do I need to add vodka to make it a cocktail? And who would want to be consuming impotent cocktails? And for some reason most of the cocktails I consume seem to have detrimental performance effects; maybe I need to switch to RedBull and Vodka.
So, what Dara appears to have said is that she planned to take legal supplements. How is this cheating?
What exactly is in these "potent cocktails of chemicals?" Or in the 75 pills that Lance is taking? I read somewhere, don't remember where, that Dara had taken creatine. Earlier, you said you considered that "cheating," Rob. If supplements and chemical enhancements are legal, it can't technically be cheating. (Although Olympic athletes cannot take creatine, can they?) Does make you wonder though if swimming success might be ever so partially dependent on being wealthy to afford all the cocktails and the entourage ... For some reason, I find that discouraging. Must be naive.
You'll need more than Yuenglings after I whomp you in the 800. :thhbbb:
Rich, let me know if you'd like me to "phantom enter" the spoiled one in the 400IM. :wave:
There's nothing like a good ole :dedhorse: feeling when you dive in for an 800 :cane:. Could make for a very interesting race between you two :cheerleader:
