Torres to Make Olympic History?

SportsTorres to Make Olympic History?Torres to Make Olympic History?The Associated PressSwimming is a sport dominated by athletes in their teens and early 20's. But, at the U.S. Trials in Omaha, a 41-year-old is one night away from making Olympic history. (July 3)((TRACK))((SUPER: Omaha, Neb.))((PICS added in WDC))41-YEAR-OLD DARA TORRES IS NOW ONE STEP AWAY FROM MAKING OLYMPIC HISTORY.THE FOUR TIME OLYMPIAN FINISHED SECOND IN THE 100-METER FREESTYLE SEMIFINALS THURSDAY NIGHT.SHE'LL RACE IN THE FINALS ON FRIDAY.IF SHE FINISHES IN THE TOP TWO, SHE'LL LIKELY BECOME THE OLDEST FEMALE SWIMMER EVER TO COMPETE IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES.ALSO THURSDAY, 22-YEAR OLD GARRETT WEBER-GALE WON THE MEN'S 100-METER FREESTYLE FINALS.CALIFORNIA'S ELAINE BREEDEN TOOK THE 200-METER BUTTERFLY FINALS.AND, SCOTT SPANN WON THE MEN'S 200-METER BACKSTROKE.BUT, ALL EYES WILL BE ON TORRES WHEN SHE RACES IN THE FINAL FRIDAY NIGHT.THE THREE-TIME GOLD MEDALIST TALKED ABOUT HER CHANCES AND HER MAIN COMPETITION - FELLOW SWIMMER NATALIE COUGHLIN.((SOT))((SUPER: Dara Torres/Olympic Hopeful))'Before we swam - actually we were in the locker room putting our suits on and she said, 'You know, Dara, I am the oldest woman on the team. I need you to make it so I'm not the oldest anymore.' I said, 'Okay.' // I didn't know what to expect. I was really, really nervous in the morning. Going into tonight it felt different. I felt a little more confident. I had nerves, but it was a good nerves, like I was ready to go out there and have fun. // I'm okay right now and I'm really glad it's not a morning swim tomorrow and I have all day to relax and get ready for tomorrow night. We'll see how this 41-year-old body holds up, you know?'((TRACK))((PICS added in WDC))THE SURPRISE OF THE NIGHT CAME IN THE MEN'S 200-METER BACKSTROKE.BRENDAN HANSEN FINISHED FOURTH AND WILL NOT COMPETE IN THE EVENT IN WHICH HE WAS HEAVILY FAVORED, ONE HE HELD THE WORLD RECORD IN JUST A MONTH AGO.JB, THE A-P, OMAHA, NEB.

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• swimming
• trials
• torres
• olympic
• history?

[neeholmes1972]

I would be interested to know where you got your information as I am not 80 years old. My maiden name was Brenda Holmes and I was the youngest member of the Canadian Olympic swim team in 1972 that went to Munich.

[rbandelj]

Go Dara! Hansen finished 4th in 200m breastroke, not backstroke. He is going to the Olympics in the 100m breaststroke though.

[TearsDropsMN]

I love this woman she is very good at what she does. I wish her the best in China and I hope she will bring home the Gold.....

[andron333]

STEROID USER AND HYPOCRITE

[jenk264]

She was actually diagnosed with asthma in '93 and what she uses is totally approved along with her dosage.

[trisoma1]

It shows what genes, training, and massage therapy can do. Now if she used Buteyko Breathing Therapy, she may not have to cheat with the asthma inhaler.

[h2osplash]

and that is why I like ed moses more than brendan hansen.

[nelsonmomo5]

Brenda Holmes was only 14, NOT 44 when she swam in the 1972 Olympics for Canada. I was at the Olympic Trials in Winnipeg in 1972 when Brenda qualified for the Olympics.

Congrats to Dara! Amazing!

[richie488]

This is very true, American media fails to look outside of the US; typical! Congrats nonetheless, an amazing feat!

[iygmd08]

Why does everyone keep saying, including the media, that she will be the oldest woman ever to compete in Olympic swimming, because that's totally untrue. She will be the oldest since 44-year-old Brenda Holmes of Canada in 1972.