Is Dara Dirty?
That's been the focus of this past weeks heated debate.
It's time for a poll.
Her Nationals victory and "remarkable" comeback from her long retirement has raised more than a few eye brows. Some believe she is, some beleive she isn't.
Some of us are on the fence, conflicted, we're thrilled to see a 40 year old swim that fast, we realize she has more talent than most 40 year olds but to become that great, that fast might be suspect.
What's your opinion?
AJ
There is no "probably," which is what I would vote.
Former Member
Read the last few postings on the other Darra Torres thread....and read the article quicksilver posted.....this woman is cooperating on a scale that is beyond reasonable by any stretch of the imagination when it comes to blood testing....she is even willing to have extra blood samples stored for future testing as newer and better tests become available in the future (such as a test for HGH which should be coming in the near future according to what I have read). I for one find it really sad that she can still be judged as guilty by so many of you guys after she has been so willing to cooperate like that? Maybe we should start convicting alleged criminals as guilty without any supporting evidence as well.....it makes about as much sense to me to do that as what I've been reading from so many about how sure people are about Darra's guilt.
Former Member
I think most of us will fall into the maybe category, just because it is so out there that someone at her age is competing at such a high level. Then again she is an ubertalent, but i guess we'll never truly know
Former Member
she can't be dirty...she speds a lot of time in the water...granted she might smell a bit bleachy...but let he or she who is without eau de chlorine cast the first pull buoy....
;)
she can't be dirty...she speds a lot of time in the water...granted she might smell a bit bleachy...but let he or she who is without eau de chlorine cast the first pull buoy....
;)
:laugh2: LOL! You beat me to it!
We are starting to see the benefits of better conditioning of women starting in grade school and up. The majority of these talented athletes will quit sometime in their 20's and go on to live life, have a job, have children, and wake up in their late 30's and realize they are out of shape, and get back into it. Dara is one who has not followed that path. She may not have been swimming to stay in shape, but she did indeed stay in shape through her 20's and 30's, and so now in her 40's, she is reaping that. She has money and all the benefits to training that buys her, she has talent and the genetic make-up to be good. If more men and women stay in shape through-out their 20's and 30's, and think we would not see such a decline in their 40's. Dara has hardly any comparison, because not many people do what she has done.
So, perhaps we will see more of this because the kids who survive through their teens and early 20's without burnout may be able to continue to get better as they earn the means to support better training and they get smarter about their training, so there is not wasted time, it is all put into getting better.
It's a sad state of affairs in the swimming community (and the sports community as a whole) when this issue is raised.
I for one celebrate and applaud Dara Torres' achievement, and refuse to believe that she has used any performance enhancing substances other than chlorine, H2O, superb conditioning, outstanding team and family support, and her own unique physiology.
I believe she will achieve the incredible goal of competing in an unprecedented 5th Olympic Games.
Yeah I guess it's sad when we discuss Bonds, McGwire, Sosa, Landis, Michelle Smith, Ben Johnson, Chinese Women, East German Women. Shame on us for bringing it up to the sports community.
I think that all he was saying is that with such rampant steroid abuse in other sports (and historically in our own--all as you note), it's a sad state of affairs that personal achievements by somewhat older athletes are automatically questioned...
It's hardly a cliche and it isn't just for criminals. It's another way of saying that a hypothesis can't be accepted as fact without proof -- a basic principle of critical thought. The alternative is proving a negative; that's what leads to witch hunts. Speculation isn't proof.
I think you took the Geek bait. :bolt:
Shame on you, Sam! ;)
Matt: Lotta maybes out there too. That is not the equivalent to saying someone is doping.
Swimming is a lot different than baseball. That's why I'm not sure the analogy applies. Baseball lived in willful blissful ignorance and never tested. Olympic athletes like swimmers undergo extensive testing. It is too bad that BALCO or cycling tars Dara.
Former Member
As to innocent until proven guilty, that is the oldest cliche in the book. That is for criminals, not sports stars and discussions of dopping.
It's hardly a cliche and it isn't just for criminals. It's another way of saying that a hypothesis can't be accepted as fact without proof -- a basic principle of critical thought. The alternative is proving a negative; that's what leads to witch hunts. Speculation isn't proof.
