Saturday, August 12, 2000
SWIM TRIALS NOTEBOOK
33-year-old Torres reaches 4th Olympics
By Jeff Carlton
The Cincinnati Enquirer
INDIANAPOLIS — In a sport with a history of systematic drug use by its top athletes, the startling success of 33-year-old Dara Torres has caused skepticism at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials.
Swimming against competitors who are sometimes half her age, Torres is posting world-class times at an age when many swimmers have been retired for more than a decade. Torres retired after the 1992 Olympics and started a comeback in 1999.
On Friday, Torres pulled out of the 200 freestyle semifinals after sufferring severe cramps following her preliminary heat. She had to be helped out of the practice pool.
“Dara has a history of severe cramping during long races such as this one,” Stanford's team doctor, Dr. Glen Luepnitz, said. “Her blood pressure drops; she gets the cold shakes.”
Barring severe injury, however, Torres will become the first U.S. swimmer to compete in four Olympics; she finished second Thursday in the 100 butterfly. She set an American record in her preliminary heat Wednesday.
“There are three (things) to describe me right now: hard work, dedication and sacrifice,” Torres said Thursday. “I think I have done everything the right way to prepare for this.”
In the 200 freestyle, the swimmers closest to Torres in age were Lindsay Benko and former University of Kentucky star Rachel Komisarz, both 23. The field also included 15-year-old Kalyn Keller, who wasn't born when Torres won gold at the 1984 games in Los Angeles.
“The woman is obsessed with doing the best she possibly can and training at the highest levels,” said Richard Quick, Torres' coach at the Stanford Swim Club and coach of the women's Olympic team.
MYERS' BEST: Ursuline's Whitney Myers swam personal bests in the 200 individual medley (2:21.01) and the 200 freestyle (2:03.43) Friday. She said she was pleased with her day's work, especially after “choking” and finishing 26th in the 400 IM Wednesday.
Today's 200 butterfly is her last event.
Myers, 15, was asked what her friends will say to her when she returns to school in a few weeks.
“They'll be like, "Did you make the Olympics?' and I'll be like, "No,' and they'll be like, "You suck,'” she said.
LOUDEST CHEER: Isaac Grombacher, 25, received the loudest cheers Friday morning, even though he finished last in the 200 butterfly. Almost four months ago, Grombacher had brain surgery to remove a benign tumor. The left side of his body was paralyzed for about two weeks following the surgery.
“This is one of the best feelings of my life,” Grombacher said.
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