"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.
Former Member
Smith dangles a hook with a worm and everyone bites.
There are many faces of USMS. I have no problem with her being one of those faces.
I'm voting for you hunkalicious!!!
I think we should have a couple $$$$ meets a year. If the right conditions were met I would be willing to put $10,000 in prize money for a carefully crafted swim meet that spread $$$ opportunities thru out the age groups.
How very generous of you.
I might be wrong here (probably not though :) ) but it seems like many cycling races, triathlons, and runs provide an opportunity to take in some new scenery. This means that not only are you seeing new sights and hearing new sounds but you are challenged by different hills, turns, surfaces, etc.. On the other hand, I can tell you what the pool is going to be like at every USMS meet across the country. Could this also have something to do with cycling and triathlons getting far more airtime than swimming?
Leslie, the only massage I ever get to have is at home....when I am laying there in bed....and my three dogs climb over me to get in or out of the bed!! :rofl::rofl:
So what "AGE" makes her qualify? Since she is over 25? If that is the case I can name many other swimmers who have done way more than Dara as "Masters Swimmers".
19 I believe.
Here's the deal with USMS, the way I see it anyhow. One need not belong to USMS to swim. Most people, even most USMS members, are not interested in competition and are really just looking to stay healthy. You can do this at any number of YMCA's or city pools across this country without belonging to USMS.
As I stated earlier, USMS stands to gain some valuable advertising with Darra. Not only is she an amazing athlete but she has two things going against her that will make her standout, her age and her being a mother. Should her face be placed on every USMS membership card? I think not. However, doing some TV spots or advertisements in periodicals could prove quite beneficial to USMS as an organization.
