Susan Von Der Lippe Makes Trials in the 100m Fly

impressive way to go ande

And clean too.

The oldest women at trials. She is amazing. When does the inquisition get underway? She's over 40 years of age. I say she's...............not a witch.

After all I think Dara is clean what about you? As I have said, I accept that she is clean unless she fails a test. Having said that I'm really concerned by all the circumstantial evidence and bothered that there are no effective tests for HGH which has been shown to produce the kind of physical transformations and other-wordly performances we have seen in sports. When a Lance Armstrong wins 7 tours, when a Landis climbs out of the grave and produces one of the most incredible single day rides in history, when a Marion Jones destroys track records, when a Barry Bonds ups the ante late in his career, even when a Susan VDL or a Paul or John Smith do something never having been done before...some sort of testing should be in place because time and again we've been duped and always will. And if Gordie had won the scoring title at 50 playing every game he should have been tested and scrutinized as well....simply playing well and being a good athlete late in life however in my opinion is not suspicious.

To review: - Susan's success is a key point for those of us who have questioned the accomplishments of Dara...Susan has followed a far more "normal" path after her 3 Olympics of getting married, having kids, working and getting back into "masters swimming" and in so doing has had NONE of the physical transformations/fluctuations that Dara has (as a reminder she put almost 30 lbs of bulk/muscle on after her first 7 year layoff, then came back far leaner and faster after the second 7 year layoff). If you don't know or haven't seen Susan she is quite a different build...a very beautiful, mature 42 year old mother that no one in the mall would guess was a world class athlete. - I would challenge that Susan is a far more talented and accomplished swimmer than Dara...both elite but Susan qualified 3x in individual events.....having said that her natural talents are evident in the success she I having now. - As great as her accomplishments are and given her talent the fact that she made trials cuts in the 100m fly by 2/10s is quite a bit different than Dara's breaking an American record...if you can't grasp the magnitude of that difference than we have no reason to debate/discuss and further. I am not going to debate who is more talented or accomplished, it is hard to separate "talent" from hard work anyway. What I will say is that Susan's accomplishments are as mind-boggling to me as Dara's, given what I would imagine to be Susan's current training habits (ie, close to those of a typical masters swimmer) and past history. Compare this to Dennis Baker, for example, who is basically still training in ways similar to a college athlete (although I do think the 200 fly is an incredibly hard event to excel in past 40! I can manage the first 150 okay but that last 50...! Sigh.) I am not trying to start an agrument about Dara -- that has been beaten to death elsewhere in the Chuch Norris thread; I respect your opinion on the matter and am not trying to change it. And I'm certainly not accusing Susan of anything. In my book, she is probably the most impressive masters swimmer around.:bow: Just as I am also amazed at anyone over 70 who completes (or even attempts!) the 400IM or the 200 fly.

And clean too. We can't really be sure about that. But I suspect you are correct.

She went 1:11.83 in the 100m *** this morning too. She'll be in the 'A' final tonight. 42 years old... She is AWESOME!

Susan's one of my favorite athletes because the only thing that exceeds her talent is her humility.

Not another swimmer over 40. I thought this is not possible. Hard to believe but athletes can compete over 40. George...you have a wonderfully annoying habit of excluding key details in attempts to make your points....or maybe its a purposeful and very good way of getting people riled up! Either way I would expect a bit more from a former cop...being the son of one! To review: - Susan's success is a key point for those of us who have questioned the accomplishments of Dara...Susan has followed a far more "normal" path after her 3 Olympics of getting married, having kids, working and getting back into "masters swimming" and in so doing has had NONE of the physical transformations/fluctuations that Dara has (as a reminder she put almost 30 lbs of bulk/muscle on after her first 7 year layoff, then came back far leaner and faster after the second 7 year layoff). If you don't know or haven't seen Susan she is quite a different build...a very beautiful, mature 42 year old mother that no one in the mall would guess was a world class athlete. - I would challenge that Susan is a far more talented and accomplished swimmer than Dara...both elite but Susan qualified 3x in individual events.....having said that her natural talents are evident in the success she I having now. - As great as her accomplishments are and given her talent the fact that she made trials cuts in the 100m fly by 2/10s is quite a bit different than Dara's breaking an American record...if you can't grasp the magnitude of that difference than we have no reason to debate/discuss and further.

Paul I happen to know a few athletes that are older and have great respect for those who accomplish amazing things in their 40s, Dara and Susan included. Although not a swimmer I refer to a great hockey player Gordie Howe. Who was a star into his 50s www.hockeydb.com/.../pdisplay.php3 Again the point seems to be lost...no one ever said that there are not great athletes in their 40's, 50's and beyond....Gordie never was at his 100% best and/or the top player in the world at 40 or 50...quite a big differance between the two George.