Dara Torres - WOW!

[Veronica]

41 years old and going to her 5th Olympic Games.

V.

[Thorn]

And to add Jeannie Longo at 49 for her 7th games

[berkeley]

She looks amazing.

I loved how she didn't know she had won because she couldn't see the board. lol

[dachshund]

Yep, wow. I was going to post the same thing.

One article, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/05/MNIO11K9OO.DTL

Makes you want to go out and conquer the world.

[berkeley]

And tonight... double wow!

[Veronica]

No hints! I don't get my swim coverage for another hour. :D

V.

[F8th637]

I saw that! I watched the trials and it was so exciting! I got goosebumps and was thrilled to see her win! She totally rocked!

[Trek420]

And to add Jeannie Longo at 49 for her 7th games

What? Jeannie Longo's going to be at the games? Woot!


Makes you want to go out and conquer the world.

But not quite enough to train that hard :rolleyes:

[ilima]

I'm really of two minds about her. As someone her age, it is obviously inspirational. But...

She spends something like $100K a year on massagers, chiros, etc. I dunno, it just seems to greedy and narcissistic, although I'm sure a healthy dose of narcissism is necessary to be world class athlete.

She's on an asthma inhaler. A bronchodilator. She says it's just to get her lungs up to where other folks are, but I don't totally believe it. She uses it 30 minutes before her races & it would definitely giver her a substantial performance boost. I'm just skeptical she's really asthmatic. Who turns asthmatic in their 30s? Most folks grow out of asthma as they get older (me & my dad included).

[bike4ever]

ilima - I wasn't identified with asthma until I was 35. I had three sons by then - two had asthma. One was severe and the other had cough variant. This version is more hidden and difficult to identify. That was what I was identified as having.

[indigoiis]

I'm 40 and have been allergy and asthma free my entire life up until last year, when, incidentally, I started exercizing and bicycling more frequently. Even back when I was a smoker, I never had shortness of breath like I do sometimes now.

[berkeley]

I'm really of two minds about her. As someone her age, it is obviously inspirational. But...

She spends something like $100K a year on massagers, chiros, etc. I dunno, it just seems to greedy and narcissistic, although I'm sure a healthy dose of narcissism is necessary to be world class athlete.

She's on an asthma inhaler. A bronchodilator. She says it's just to get her lungs up to where other folks are, but I don't totally believe it. She uses it 30 minutes before her races & it would definitely giver her a substantial performance boost. I'm just skeptical she's really asthmatic. Who turns asthmatic in their 30s? Most folks grow out of asthma as they get older (me & my dad included).

To the first point... I suppose we could say that about anyone that spends $$ on a "hobby" or "sport", right? I mean, plenty of people think I'm absolutely nuts to spend money on my dogs or a bike... but as long as it's not putting anyone in danger, and it's a source of happiness for them, I really don't care what people spend their money on. KWIM?

To the second - at least she's open and honest about what she's doing, and so far, it's been deemed "legal". She's actually volunteered for more frequent drug testing, so you have to give her credit for that.

[dachshund]

I'm really of two minds about her. As someone her age, it is obviously inspirational. But...

She spends something like $100K a year on massagers, chiros, etc. I dunno, it just seems to greedy and narcissistic, although I'm sure a healthy dose of narcissism is necessary to be world class athlete.

She's on an asthma inhaler. A bronchodilator. She says it's just to get her lungs up to where other folks are, but I don't totally believe it. She uses it 30 minutes before her races & it would definitely giver her a substantial performance boost. I'm just skeptical she's really asthmatic. Who turns asthmatic in their 30s? Most folks grow out of asthma as they get older (me & my dad included).

Well... yeah, but she's 25 years older than most of her competitors. I respect your opinion, but I imagine some of the other athletes are putting big $$ into their programs. I also think it takes massive ego to do something like this, and I don't mean that in a bad way.

I think it's wild. I think she's really inspiring.

[Velobambina]

Younger athletes also a lot of time & money in their training, and actually might have an easier time finding sponsors to pay their expenses. As an over-40 athlete, I find her inspiring. I hope to see her on the medal podium.

[Over50Newbie]

She is my new hero. I am a 53 year old competitive Master's swimmer. Not a very fast swimmer, but I do enjoy it. ;)

For those of you that don't swim, let me tell you that a 41 year old female swimmer is like a dinosaur. She is competing against teenage girls and young women in their 20s. She is now officially the oldest female swimmer in Olympic history.

Also, the fact that she is competing in the 2 fastest Olympic swimming events is even more amazing. because as you age you lose fast-twitch muscle fibers faster than slow-twitch muscle fibers. So to be able to sprint as fast as she does absolutely blows my mind.

She is totally redefining the stereotype of older female swimmers. I can't wait to see her compete in the Beijing Olympics.

Here is a picture of her - look at those abs! WOW!!! :)

Lynette

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l238/lgbmsi/daratorres.jpg

[dachshund]

Wow I want to look like that when I'm ...
Oh, wait, I'm older than 41. Nevermind.

Yep, she's awesome.

[redrhodie]

I'm 41, too! I'm happy that there's still hope that I can continue getting stronger. I really feel like I'm still improving on the bike. I'm not getting much faster, but a little, and climbing feels better than ever.

She's inspirational. I'm sure it takes a lot of time, money, effort to get where she is, but that it still can happen is exciting to me! Just think, 50 years ago this was impossible. We've come so far. Yay women! The world is our oyster.

[Veronica]

"I'm 41 ." That's what I kept saying to my husband the night she swam the 100. Anyone at that level of sport is spending big bucks and has to be extremely driven. I just find it very inspirational. If she can swim at the Olympics, I can... run 13 miles, do this next set of weights, eke out one more push up...

V.

[MsTerra]

I'm 41, too, and torn between being inspired and feeling totally past it because of all the talk about how amazing her accomplishment is given that she's "middle aged." Excuse me? Who's middle aged? ;)

I don't really pay attention to the Olympics so I didn't hear about her until recently, but I think I'm going to start scoping out articles for information on working out at this age. I'll never be an Olympian, but I'm sure there's a lot I can learn from her.

Today one of my male co-workers (who swims regularly) remarked, "She's built like a man! She's a monster!" So I had to google up some photos, and wow, that woman is a freaking Amazon. Nothing mannish about her, just a really strong, lean, muscular woman. I should be such a monster.

[ny biker]

I'm really of two minds about her. As someone her age, it is obviously inspirational. But...

She spends something like $100K a year on massagers, chiros, etc. I dunno, it just seems to greedy and narcissistic, although I'm sure a healthy dose of narcissism is necessary to be world class athlete.

She's on an asthma inhaler. A bronchodilator. She says it's just to get her lungs up to where other folks are, but I don't totally believe it. She uses it 30 minutes before her races & it would definitely giver her a substantial performance boost. I'm just skeptical she's really asthmatic. Who turns asthmatic in their 30s? Most folks grow out of asthma as they get older (me & my dad included).


I developed asthma in my 30s. It's nice you grew out of it but after watching my grandmother and father struggle with adult-onset asthma I know that I will only get worse as I get older.

[redrhodie]

I'm 41, too, and torn between being inspired and feeling totally past it because of all the talk about how amazing her accomplishment is given that she's "middle aged." Excuse me? Who's middle aged? ;)


Well, if you were running for president, you'd still be too young, so there you go. You're still a baby ;).

[katluvr]

[QUOTE=ilima;335596]I'm really of two minds about her. As someone her age, it is obviously inspirational. But...

She spends something like $100K a year on massagers, chiros, etc. I dunno, it just seems to greedy and narcissistic, although I'm sure a healthy dose of narcissism is necessary to be world class athlete.QUOTE]

If I was a professional athelete and I could afford all that I would! I currenlty pay a gym membership, pay and meet w/ a personal trainer weekly for 1 hour (strength, core work) and pay a "coach" for my biking and running...all to just get a bit more fit, lose weight and get faster! If I could find a personal chef I would do that tooooo! My work gets in teh way of my desire/love. Her work is her desire/love.

I hate that we are skeptical that a women at her age can continue to be fantastic! I sure hope I am not disappointed!

K

[OakLeaf]

Her body is the tool of her profession.

How much should a lawyer spend on her library? How much should a doctor or dentist spend on on an X-ray machine?

[Crankin]

Well said. If I could, I would spend $100K a year to be in that shape. As it is, what I spend on bikes, sports related vacations, equipment and clothing is enough to make some faint.
I developed asthma in my 30's too.

[velogirl]

I don't know, she looks a little water-logged to me.

:)

[TxDoc]

And to add Jeannie Longo at 49 for her 7th games
Yep, 7th time - and after having won almost every possible road race in the world! Definitely a great champion!

[Thorn]

Yep...Jeannie Longo has 55 national titles....55! The latest on the track at age 49.

http://www.velonews.com/article/79645/jeannie-longo-wins-another-national-title-and-an-olympic

Yes, the Dara Torres is impressive, but consider me more awed by Jeannie Longo (besides, she's a cyclist :) )

[OakLeaf]

I was awed by Jeannie Longo 20 years ago when I was racing.

She's still a year older than I am. Darnitall.

[beccaB]

My question is-is it really possible for someone who looks like they might have around 3% body fat, is it possible to even be able to swim? I don't swim well at all, not that I don't have any body fat, I have plenty. Maybe it's an ignorant question. I've never seen a swimmer that sculpted.

[OakLeaf]

well for one thing, that looks to me like around 15% body fat. I don't think a woman can survive with 3% - and from the picture she's not cut like a bodybuilder. Not that it's not impressive!

It's true that swimmers and divers tend to have a lot more subQ fat than other athletes. I'm not sure why - I hope someone here can enlighten us because I've wondered about that too!

But also, that's a publicity shot. I don't really follow swimming, but obviously they don't compete in bikinis, so I don't know if I've ever seen a picture of a female swimmer's abs before. I wonder if she really is built any differently from her peers. From what you can see of her thighs, they aren't cut at all, and her arms, not much.

[GLC1968]

Yeah, I'd guess she's around 13 to 15% body fat too. Her face and neck/chest area aren't gaunt looking, and that's common for women with super low bodyfat - particularly at that age. She's probably got the genetics that allow for visible abs like that. When I'm fit, I have visible fat on my legs but yet nicely cut abs. Go figure.


I think she is amazingly inspiring. Truly. I hope I can look 1/4 that good and peform a tiny fraction of that well by the time I'm 41. I've got 6 months...think I can do it? :p