Dara Torres competed in her first Olympic Games when she was 17 in 1984. Now, 28-years-later, Torres could qualify for her 6th Olympic Games. The 45-year-old Olympian is one lap away from earning a spot on the 2012 United States Olympic Swim Team.
The Washington Post reports that Torres will race in the 50-meter freestyle final at the U.S. trials tonight. If she finishes in the top two she will pack her bags for the Olympics for the sixth time.
Torres, who won three medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing at the age of 41, is only swimming in one event this year.
Torres said:
“It’s a lot tougher this time… When I was 41 people said I was middle-aged, but now I’m really, really middle-aged… In ’08 it was about winning medals. This time it’s about making the team.”
According to NBC, Torres became the oldest swimmer to ever compete in the Olympics in 2008. And Torres didn’t just compete. The swimmer, who was 41-years-old at the time, brought home three Olympic medals.
Torres currently has 12 Olympic medals and if she is able to bring one more home from London she’ll be the most decorated female athlete in American history.
Dara Torres will swim in the 50-meter finals tonight on NBC at 8 p.m. Do you think Dara Torres will make it to the Olympics for a 6th time?
