Interesting read on Dara and a supposed female bias.
grg51.typepad.com/.../does-dara-torre.html
"Does Dara Torres suffer from a double standard of doping scrutiny?
Interesting column from the normally logical Gwen Knapp today. She wonders why a 40 year-old male like Barry Bonds received a free pass when he belted a home run every time he spit, meanwhile a successful 41 year-old female swimmer -- Dara Torres -- comes under the intense scrutiny of the doping-suspicions crowd. (Torres simply delivered a baby at age ~39, then records 5% faster times in her postpartum swimming years than she did in her college competitions; maybe she cut down on that college drinking)."
Nonsense. MLB simply endorsed steroid use.
We gave you examples. How about Dennis Baker, Dr. Ron Karnough, Karlyn Pipes. . . Etc. None have beaten best times now that they are in their 40s let alone place in the top two at trials and set an AR.
John, I agree with you in principle...but Lezak's time WAS a little eye-popping for a 32-year-old. It would be interesting to see if he would be able to keep it up into his 40s if he kept training. Or if he could pull a Dara and come out of retirement in 8 years to equal/better his latest times.
They were comparable in their talent and performances long ago. Dennis trains solidly compared to Dara and quite a bit more than most masters swimmers.
No question about that, but I think there might be a big difference in what they do out of the pool. Dennis continues to coach on deck and Dara is at home getting massages, etc.
I think the point is that Dara's success is quite a bit more noticeable than Dennis's success.
I certainly can't disagree with that. And I guess the question is then, if Dennis did emulate Dara's training program would he be able to perform at a comparable level to her? Odds are, no, he couldn't.
ehoch,
You're way out of bounds on your comments about Dennis Baker's talent and training. Perhaps you don't know who he is very well.
As for Dara not being trained correctly to hit her full potential when she was younger........ I find this laughable.
Let's watch over the coming years to see if any former elite swimmers with the financial resources that Dara has can qualify for the top 8.
Don't hold your breath.
John Smith
We gave you examples. How about Dennis Baker, Dr. Ron Karnough, Karlyn Pipes. . . Etc. None have beaten best times now that they are in their 40s let alone place in the top two at trials and set an AR.
How many of them have been training essentially full time for the past two years and have the full complement of coach(es), trainers, masseuses, nannies and whatever other support staff that Dara has?
Skip
I have another good comeback example no one has mentioned yet. Jeff Rouse came back for the 2004 Trials after a 5-6 year retirement. I believe he spent at least a solid two years training for the 100 back. He quit his job, returned to Palo Alto and trained with the Stanford men, at the time having many world class backstrokers in the pool with him. I think he was 34 at the time of the trials. I thought his performances were tremendous (55.0 or so). He made top 8 at trials, but didn't go anywhere near his previous best and WR of 53.8. He went much faster than any masters swimmer his age has ever been, but still not close to the elite swimmers in 2004. He is at least an equal comparison to Torres in terms of talent and training during a comeback attempt.
I don't know the medical basis for this, but it is really hard for me to fathom. I think pregnancy and childbirth and post-baby time are typically associated with flat out exhaustion. I had a kid at 39, and I didn't really experience this wonderful new phase of life. In fact, physically, I feel like I've gone mostly downhill since 40. I can't seem to recover at all.
That's why you need a nanny. Or an au pair girl.
Just for clarification on the previous issue, it is now evident that the one's who are calling her out for skipping the 100 are the same who are certain she is a steriod cheat! I for one am bothered by that, because I think she is a steroid cheat and find it distracting to the issue to make claims that she is selfish for scratching the 100. It gives the appearance of pettiness.
Gull,
Please add "petty" to the list of adjectives.
John Smith
John, did you misunderstand me that badly? It is petty to claim she selfish for scratching the 100 in view of her other offenses.
Maybe I am not understanding you?
