Hall of Fame

Dara Torres

Swimming

Olympian in Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

Born:
April 15, 1967
Birthplace:
Beverly Hills, California
Hometown:
Parkland, Florida
College:
University of Florida

hall of fame

Dara Torres

Swimming

Olympian in Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

Born:
April 15, 1967
Birthplace:
Beverly Hills, California
Hometown:
Parkland, Florida
College:
University of Florida
Dara Torres was nicknamed “Mom” by U.S. Olympic teammates at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games where at age 41 she set three American records in winning three silver medals.
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Dara Torres was just 17 years old, yet to even enroll in college when she won her first Olympic medal: gold in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games.

But while Torres burst onto the international swimming stage at a young age, her career was most notable for its incredible longevity. At the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Torres came out of retirement at age 33 to become the oldest woman the win an Olympic swimming medal. (She won two gold medals and three bronze at that Olympiad.)

Then, eight years later, the 41-year-old Torres again came out of retirement. Having given birth two years earlier and with Olympic teammates who jokingly referred to her as “Mom,” Torres captured three silver medals as she became the first American swimmer to compete in five Olympic Games.

“There are a lot of middle-aged women and men I know that contacted me, emailed or stopped me in the street to tell me that I am an inspiration to them and are now doing things that they thought they couldn’t do,” Torres said.

Age is really just a number and I’m hoping that my age paves the way for other athletes, who maybe think they are too old to do something, to get back in or continue in the sport.”


Meet the Class of 2019

MEDAL RESULTS
1984Los Angeles4x100m Freestyle relayGold
1988Seoul4x100m Medley relaySilver
1988Seoul4x100m Freestyle relayBronze
1992Barcelona4x100m Freestyle relayGold
2000Sydney4x100m Freestyle relayGold
2000Sydney4x100m Medley relayGold
2000Sydney50m FreestyleBronze
2000Sydney100m FreestyleBronze
2000Sydney100m ButterflyBronze
2008Beijing50m FreestyleSilver
2008Beijing4x100m Freestyle relaySilver
2008Beijing4x100m Medley relaySilver

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