User login
Browse archives
Who's online
Syndicate
Torres qualifies first in 50m free semifinals...
OMAHA -- After winning the women's 100-meter freestyle Friday night, Dara Torres said Saturday, she was whipped, her 41-year-old self feeling as if she had been "hit with a freight train."
Again Saturday night, however, that was Torres -- metaphorically speaking here -- rolling once more down the tracks.
In the semifinals of the 50m free, which is traditionally more her race than the 100m, Dara touched in the night's best time, 24.38 seconds., an American record That swim came just moments after Jessica Hardy had gone 24.48 in the prior heat -- which itself was an American record.
"I'm very competitive and I saw the time, obviously, before," she said.
She also said, in a look ahead to Sunday's 50m free final, that she was "really worried," which is totally her nature. Even so, she said, "I have a lot of time to drop."
Dara also volunteered that her hectic life got even more hectic after her unexpected 100m triumph. In 53.78 seconds on Friday night, she made herself into an iconic figure in American culture. Sometimes icons attract weirdos.
"I only got four hours' sleep last night," she said. "I was getting crank calls -- so I unplugged my phone today and got a good nap and felt really good when I got in the water today."
Another part of Dara's hectic life involves questions about whether, if she makes the 2008 U.S. team in the 50m free, she might consider dropping the 100m.
Such queries make for one of the fascinating subplots remaining in these U.S. Olympic swim Trials, which wrap up Sunday night.
``I think it would be better if I just did the relay and 50,'' she said. ``If I were to make the 100 and the 50 I can't see myself doing both those events. I am 41 and I am human.
Ah, but that was before she won the 100. Now a quick review of other facts that may prove pertinent.
Swimmer Jenny Thompson has won 12 Olympic medals. That tops the U.S. women's list.
Should Dara qualify in the 50m free, she could -- in theory -- be eligible for four events in Beijing, the two individual events plus two relays.
If she were to win medals in all four -- nine plus four is, of course, 13.
This is cache, read story here