{"id":320023,"date":"2018-07-23T13:00:06","date_gmt":"2018-07-23T20:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=320023"},"modified":"2018-07-23T14:22:17","modified_gmt":"2018-07-23T21:22:17","slug":"dara-torres-the-comeback-queen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/dara-torres-the-comeback-queen\/","title":{"rendered":"Dara Torres: The Comeback Queen"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Payton Titus, Swimming World College Intern.<\/em><\/p>\n

Dara Torres\u00a0<\/strong>is an American icon. This 12-time Olympic medalist (four gold, four silver and four bronze<\/a>) became the first swimmer to attend five Olympics after the 2008 Games in Beijing. Torres is currently tied with her former Olympic teammates Jenny Thompson <\/strong>and Natalie Coughlin<\/strong> for the title of most decorated female Olympian<\/a> of all time.<\/p>\n

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Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick<\/p><\/div>\n

In addition to her aquatic accolades, Torres has appeared on several television shows, including the following: Fox News<\/em>, ESPN<\/em>, CNN<\/em>, Piers Morgan Tonight<\/em>, Today Show<\/em>, Good Morning America<\/em> and Kelly and Regis<\/em>.\u00a0One year after her fifth appearance on the Olympic stage, Torres’ memoir – Age is Just a Number: Achieve Your Dreams at Any Stage in Your Life<\/em> – became one of the top 25 best-selling business books in 2009. In that same year, Torres won an ESPY for Best Comeback and was named one of the Top Female Athletes of the Decade by Sports Illustrated.<\/p>\n

Torres’ story, full of\u00a0record-breaking and age-defying performances, makes her an inspiration to athletes everywhere. Her indubitable work ethic and insatiable thirst for competition are nothing short of extraordinary. From one of the youngest swimmers engaged in international competition to the oldest swimming Olympic medalist of all time<\/a>, Torres’ swimming career was full of challenges and triumphs.<\/p>\n

1984 Olympic Games<\/h1>\n

Fresh off of breaking the 50-meter freestyle world record in 1983, Torres won gold as the third leg on the 4×100-meter freestyle relay at the Los Angeles Olympic Games.<\/p>\n

1988 Olympic Games<\/h1>\n
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Photo Courtesy: Swimming World Magazine<\/p><\/div>\n

In 1985, Torres accepted a scholarship to swim under coach Randy Reese<\/strong> at the University of Florida. During her time there, Torres earned 28 All-American swimming honors and competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.<\/p>\n

Her performances on the 4×100-meter medley relay and the 4×100-meter freestyle relay helped her and her teammates win silver and bronze medals, respectively.<\/p>\n

1992 Olympic Games<\/h1>\n

At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, Torres won her second relay gold on the 4×100 freestyle relay.<\/p>\n

After her third Games, Torres took a break from the pool. She moved to New York and started working in television. She became the first athlete model to be featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Her First Comeback: 2000 Olympic Games<\/h1>\n
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Photo Courtesy: Swimming World Magazine<\/p><\/div>\n

After seven years of living the glamorous life, Torres decided she wanted to start training again and give the Olympics one more try. In 1999 – just before the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia – she started training with coach Richard Quick<\/strong> in Palo Alto and Santa Clara.<\/p>\n

Torres then made her fourth Olympic team at the age of 33. Earning her first individual medals, Torres took bronze in three events: the 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle. She helped her relays win gold medals in the 4×100 medley and 4×100 freestyle.<\/p>\n

After what was arguably her best Olympic showing, Torres took home her five new medals and decided to retire.<\/p>\n

Her Second Comeback: 2008 Olympic Games<\/h1>\n

Fast-forward five years, and the pregnant Torres decided to return to the pool. She started training at the\u00a0Coral Springs Aquatic Complex three or four days a week\u00a0to stay fit. In 2006, after giving birth to her first daughter, Tessa Grace, Torres entered two Masters meets. At these meets, Torres swam fast enough to qualify for Olympic Trials<\/a>, which was enough for her to attempt a record-breaking fifth Olympic team.<\/p>\n

She asked Coral Springs’ coach Michael Lohberg<\/strong><\/a> to coach her. In 2007, Torres won the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. Three days later, she broke the American record in the 50-meter freestyle for the tenth time – 24 years after setting it for the very first time.<\/p>\n

In 2008, Torres won the 50-meter freestyle at U.S. Trials and qualified for her fifth Olympic team, competing at the 2008 Beijing Games. By making the team at the age of 40, she became the oldest swimmer to ever compete in the Olympics.<\/p>\n

Throwback Video From 2012 USA Olympic Trials
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