Winning Olympic medals never gets old for Dara Torres.
The self-described old lady of the U.S. team anchored the American women to a silver medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay Sunday at age 41, earning her 10th career Olympic medal and first since 2000.
In the ready room before the race, Torres introduced herself to the Australians, never having met Trickett or 16-year-old Cate Campbell, the youngest member of the Aussie swim team. She just looks so young and innocent, Torres said. “I know the water doesn’t really know what age you are, but it is kind of cute to see the innocence there.
Since winning the 50 and 100 freestyles at the U.S. trials, Torres has been heralded as a hero for weekend warriors everywhere.
There are a lot of middle-aged men and women who I know that tell me that I’m an inspiration to them and they’re now doing things they thought they couldn’t do,she said. I’m hoping that my age paves the way for other athletes who maybe think they’re too old to do something.
But first she turned the silver medal over in her hands.
It’s a great feeling,she said. I was looking at the medal and how beautiful it is. I’m like, ‘Oh wow, it’s true. I do have 10 medals.