The Second Comeback of Dara Torres

First Masters Meet

Ft. Lauderdale, FL
February 25, 2007
The Test Run

• She broke 2 masters records in the 50 and 100 yard (in a shortcourse – 25 yard pool) free.
  
  
• Beat her college time in the 50 free.

Second Masters Meet

St. Petersburg, FL
April 13, 2007
Turning 40 and Breaking Records

• 50 yd – 21.91 – her best time ever. New masters record.
  
  
• 100 yd free – (on her 40th birthday) – 48.34 – her best time ever. New masters record.
  
  
• So far, so good…Now onto her first international competition in 8 years.

First International Meet

Rome, Italy – Sette Colli
June 9-10, 2007
Letting the World Know

• 2nd in the 50m Free to Swedens T. Alshammar, current world champion.

• Her time of 24.93 was 3 tenths of a second off her American record time of 24.63.

• Her time is currently the 2nd fastest by an American swimmer this year.

• 1st in the 100m free (beating T. Alshammar).

• Her time of 54.63 was a meet record and 2 tenths of a second off of her fastest time ever.

Second International Meet

Monaco – Mare Nostrum
June 16-17, 2007
Proving That Age is Just a Number

• Won the gold a ‘race’ style 50m free where they start with 20 swimmers, go to 16, then 8, then 4, then the final 2 who swim in a head-to-head race.

• Her finals time of 25.00 set a new meet record, beating the almost half her age, 22 year old Australian swimmer, Alice Mil.

Speedo Championship Series
Sectional Meet

Ft. Lauderdale, FL
July 12-15, 2007
Getting Closer...

• Won the 50m free in a time of 24.81 - shattering the meet record.
  
  
• Her 2nd fastest of all time, behind her american Record of 24.63.
  
  
• 6th fastest time in the world this year.
  
  
• Broke the meet record and easily won the 100m free.
  
  
• Coral Springs 400m medley relay with Dara anchoring crushed the meet record.
  
  
• Video from this meet - Watch Dara get Resistance Stretched and swim!

Photo by Rhonda Vanover

ConocoPhillips US
National Championships

Indianapolis, IN
July 31 - August 4, 2007
Making a HUGE Statement...

• Dara won the 100m in 54.45. This was .02 off her best ever.
• Seeded 5th entering the finals, she emerged as the US national champion over a field of more than 100 women.
• Her split (first 50 meters) was 25.79 - under world record time!!
• Dara Torres also won the 50m national title in a *NEW* American record (breaking her old one from 2000) 24.53.
• Dara Torres' 24.53 also broke the previous US Nationals meet record.
• The time posted by Dara Torres is the 2nd fastest time in the world this year and the fastest time by an American swimmer!!
• These were Dara Torres' 14th and 15th national titles. Her first came more than 25 years ago, at the age of 14.
• Dara Torres is the oldest US national champion EVER!

FINA World Cup 2007

Berlin, Germany
November 17-18, 2007
Breaking More Records...

• Dara Torres set a new American Record in the 50M Short Course with a time of 23.82 - the only American in history to swim a sub-24.
  
  
• Her time is good for 4th fastest all-time - only 5 women have swam sub-24.
  
  
• Dara Torres also broke the American Record in the 100M Short Course with a time of 52.79.
  
  
• Her time is good for 5th fastest all-time.

Texas Sectionals

College Station, TX
May 16 - 18, 2008
The Final Warm-up Before Trials...

• Dara swam her fastest time ever in the 100m free - 54.17.
  
  
• This time is the 2nd fastest time by an American woman this year.
  
  
• Dara was just .03 off her American record time of 24.53 in the 50m coming in 1st at 24.56.
  
  
• Dara is still #1 among American women in this event and her American record time is 5th fastest in the world this year.

Photo by Peter Bick

US Olympic Trials 2008

Omaha, NE
June 29 - July 6, 2008
What She's Been Working For...

• Dara swam her best time ever in the semifinals - 53.76. Seeded 2nd heading into finals.
  
  
• Dara wins the 100 m in 53.78 and EARNS her trip to Beijing in front of 13,000.
  
  
• In the semifnals, Dara sets a new American record in the 50m in 24.28 in front of a record-breaking swimming crowd (in America) of 13,717 fans.
  
  
• In the finals, Dara finishes her winning ways by re-breaking her American record in the 50m in a time of 24.25.
  
  
• Dara Torres makes her 5th Olympic Team and qualifies to swim in the 100m and 50m individual events as well as the 4x100m relay and medley relay.