"Dara Torres should be the face of United States Masters Swimming"
Brent Rutemiller, October issue Swimming World Magazine
"Of Course, Torres isn't on this trip alone. Aside from the support of Hoffman, her daughter and her coaches, Torres relies on a team. She has a nanny who tends to Tessa, a strength coach, and physical and massage therapists who work her like a piece of dough."
John Lohn, October Swimming World Magazine
With all due respect to Mr. Rutemillier & Mr. Lohn I would suggest that they spend a little more time around the people who not only compete in the meets of our sport but with the people who are the backbone as volunteers in the day to day running of it....Dara's only contribution has been making a few workouts early in her comeback, attending a couple of meets and signing autographs and collecting checks for clinics.
If you want a "face" of Masters Swimming look to Susan Von der Lippe who beat Dara as the first person over 40 to qualify for Trials....and she did it training with a masters team 3x a week...working par time, no nanny, no trainers....no PR person....that to me this is the core of what we are in my opinion.
How about Rob Copeland who somehow manages to run this entire organization, swim extremely well, post on our forum....all without a massage therapist and pilates instructor....again this is what Masters represents...to me.
Dara has done something remarkable for anyone her age... give her credit..but lets see if at some point she wants to time at one of our meets...or be on one of our committee's to help promote masters...without an appearance fee.
USMS wants to get away from the "elite" mindset associates with a "master", so that certainly won't do the trick. I think Dara is amazing and I hope it does promote the sport. I doubt Susan or Dennis are really the face of the sport either as most of us will never come close to achieving what they have or swimming nearly as fast.
Wouldn't the face really be the majority - which doesn't even compete but likes being fit and loves the water?
Here here! I love Dara, don't get me wrong. She is a beast in the water. But when I go to masters meets and open water events I love to see the old folks--they really have guts and they always have a great attitude. To be 70 and still in shape for a 2 mile swim--that is the goal baby!
USMS wants to get away from the "elite" mindset associates with a "master", so that certainly won't do the trick. I think Dara is amazing and I hope it does promote the sport. I doubt Susan or Dennis are really the face of the sport either as most of us will never come close to achieving what they have or swimming nearly as fast.
Wouldn't the face really be the majority - which doesn't even compete but likes being fit and loves the water?
Here here! I love Dara, don't get me wrong. She is a beast in the water. But when I go to masters meets and open water events I love to see the old folks--they really have guts and they always have a great attitude. To be 70 and still in shape for a 2 mile swim--that is the goal baby!
