Dara Torres, the Hero of the Olympics

I absolutely love the Olympics.  I've never cheered louder than we Lezak caught France.  I've followed Lance, Jordan, Tiger, and all the other American greats in my generation, and agree with many that Michael Phelps just completed the greatest athletic achievement in history.  I am insanely proud to be a citizen of the country that he represents.

But...BUT...Dara Torres is my hero of this Olympics.  Hats off to Phelps...but I have never wanted a pro athlete to succeed as much as I wanted Dara Torres to win that 50 m freestyle.  She didn't.  She 'lost'  by 1/10 of a second.  But I know that four people in a living room in Seattle where inspired by her.  I'm sure millions of others where as well.

I hope, that if Dara Torres ever sits down and reads the thousands upon thousands of internet posts about her she reads this one, and knows that four rencent college grads in a small apartment where just as inspired by her silver as we could have been by her gold.  We were rooting...well screaming... for her.  Not just because she was older than the gold and bronze medalist combined, not just because she skipped the last two olympics to be a mother, not just because she was the only one to step out of the 'zone' to remember what was important and stop a race so that another swimmer could fix her broken swimsuit, but because, not matter what the odds, she was going to give everything she had to her goal, and in doing so inspired 4 young adults in a way no one else ever could while finishing second, not first but second, and by her grit, her determination, and by every value this country holds dear she showed us the model by which we should attack the many goals that we have.

I am so proud to be a citizen of the country of the flag that Dara Torres wore on her cap.

Congratulations Dara.  Thank you for inspiring me.

Comments

[Jeff Widman]

Plus she was faster than the Aussie for her leg...

[Kavin]

Yes Dara Torres is a hero of this Olympics may god give her many more.
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