Winner of 9 Olympic medals, model,broadcaster and mother, Dara made her record fifth US Olympic team. In her second comeback after 6 years away from the pool, she has become the oldest female swimmer, at age 41, to make the Olympic team.
Biography
Winner of nine Olympic medals, the first athlete to appear as a model for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, a successful broadcaster, and mother of two-year old Tessa Grace, Dara Torres has shattered expectations by making her record fifth US Olympic team. In her second comeback after 6 years away from the pool, Dara has become the oldest female swimmer, at age 41, to make the Olympic team. Competing against girls half her age, she has been unstoppable, breaking the US record in the 50m Freestyle multiple times on her way to Beijing.
Competing on the international stage since the age of 14, Dara carried her success to the University of Florida where she earned the maximum 28 possible NCAA All-American swimming awards. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Dara will compete in the 50m Freestyle, 4x100m Freestyle relay and 4x100 Medley relay. Despite qualifying for both the 50m and 100m Freestyle events at Olympic Trials, she dropped the 100m Freestyle from her program to focus on her strongest event.
Outside of swimming, Dara has had great success as a TV commentator and a print model and was a feature correspondent for Good Morning America, worked on-air for ESPN, TNT and Fox News Channel including stints on NHL Cool Shots and Fox Sports Sunday.
STATS
Birthday: April 5, 1967
Hometown: Jupiter, FL
Residence: Coral Springs, FL
Sport: Swimming
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• 9-Time Olympic Medalist
• 5-Time Olympian
• First swimmer from the United States to compete in 5 Olympics
• US Record Holder in the 50m Freestyle
• First athlete to appear in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition
• Television experience includes work for ABC, ESPN, TNT and Fox
SPONSORS
Speedo, Toyota
Programs
Women’s Issues, Women’s Empowerment, Never Give up your Dream, You're NOT too old to chase your dream, The Olympic Experience