"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.
Parents
Former Member
I agree with the multiple face approach.
I see Dara as an example of the ultimate, or what is possible, if you do everything you can to succeed. Only a tiny percentage of Masters swimmers are even remotely like her. The message to attach to Dara might be something like "age and family aren't barriers to world class performance." Kind of an in your face statement too to our younger world class athletes who can't beat her.
The majority of us are 40-ish and participate for fitness and some competition, at least a few times a year. A message for us could emphasize fitness, satisfaction, comraderie, and show how swimming can fit in to a complicated family life. Isn't this the core group we want to attract and retain into their 50s?
Another category is the lifelong/senior swimmer. Highlight a 60-80 yr. old who has been swimming for 40 years. Show how quality of life in these years is even better when you're swimming.
I agree with the multiple face approach.
I see Dara as an example of the ultimate, or what is possible, if you do everything you can to succeed. Only a tiny percentage of Masters swimmers are even remotely like her. The message to attach to Dara might be something like "age and family aren't barriers to world class performance." Kind of an in your face statement too to our younger world class athletes who can't beat her.
The majority of us are 40-ish and participate for fitness and some competition, at least a few times a year. A message for us could emphasize fitness, satisfaction, comraderie, and show how swimming can fit in to a complicated family life. Isn't this the core group we want to attract and retain into their 50s?
Another category is the lifelong/senior swimmer. Highlight a 60-80 yr. old who has been swimming for 40 years. Show how quality of life in these years is even better when you're swimming.
