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One of the most riveting and inspirational stories of last summer's Olympic Games in Beijing was the comeback of swimmer Dara Torres, then 41. Torres, who had retired after winning five medals at the Sydney Games in 2000, returned to the pool seven years later, shortly after the birth of her daughter, Tessa. With her perseverance, positive attitude, and, oh yeah, those washboard abs, Torres captivated audiences worldwide long after the closing ceremonies. Torres recently took some time between swimming in the National and World Championships to answer some of our questions!  dailySpark: You're facing serious knee surgery after this summer, which while treatable, is certainly a setback in your training. Our members often face their own hurdles in their journeys to healthy living and weight loss. How do recover from a setback such as this, and how do you stay motivated mentally when your body doesn't cooperate? Dara Torres: I concentrate on the end result and how the surgery will make my life more productive. Now, my knee hurts sometimes when I’m climbing stairs and after training and I know that the surgery is going to take away that pain. I like to look at the positive side of things, but I also look at reality, too. I know my body isn't going to heal as fast as it would have when I was younger, but all I can do is work hard, keep a positive outlook and go with the flow. dailySpark: Before and during your remarkable comeback at last year's Olympics, your age was a common talking point. While women are incessantly pressured to embrace youth, you dispel stereotypes and serve as a phenomenal role model for females of all ages. Now you're helping BP promote its "Younger for Longer Challenge." What sort of positive message are you trying to convey, and what type of shift in attitude do you hope to inspire? Dara Torres: I want to debunk the myths about age and its limitations, what can and can't be done based solely upon stereotypes. I'd like to convey that Age is Just a Number and that's why I’ve teamed up with BP to launch the BP Younger for Longer Challenge, a national contest that asks Americans to share personal stories for how they maintain their youth and vitality. For me, swimming and my daughter, Tessa, help keep me running younger for longer, but there are other great stories out there too. (To enter, log on to bpinvigorate.com--one grand prize winner will win $10,000 in BP gasoline with Invigorate, plus a trip to come hang out with me!) dailySpark: Do you hope that someday, age will no longer be a headline-grabbing detail? Dara Torres: Hopefully not. If you look at Tom Watson's recent performance at the British Open, and then look further back at how well Jack Nicklaus performed at an older age and even Nolan Ryan throwing a no-hitter at the age of 44, athletes in every sport are continuing to disprove the thought that you can't perform at an older age. dailySpark: Even as a professional swimmer with an enviable physique, you probably have days when you don't feel like giving 100%. When your mind or body (or both) doesn't want to cooperate, where do you find the mental and physical strength to persevere and reach your goals? Dara Torres: I'm very big on setting goals in life and when I'm tired or don't really feel like training I think about my goals. At this stage in my career, I can't set goals too far down the road, so my personal short term goals motivate me to work hard and push through pain or fatigue. dailySpark: SparkPeople encourages its members to surround themselves with people who will support them in reaching their goals and recognizes that going it alone makes any journey seem insurmountable. Who are the people you turn to for support, and what do they do to help keep you believing in yourself? Dara Torres: Definitely my family and a few close friends. They help to keep me motivated by being honest and just telling me the truth but at the same time they always remain positive. I don't enjoy or think it's beneficial to be around people who are very negative. dailySpark: In addition to being an Olympic champion swimmer, you're an author, a public speaker, and a mother. Outside the pool, where do you find passion in life and how do you find time to pursue those passions? Dara Torres: My passion is my daughter; I would do anything for her and will always make time for her no matter the circumstances. There should always be time for family. Since winning three silver medals last summer, Torres has stayed busy, both in the pool and out. She took home the gold at Nationals and came in eighth place at the World Championships in Rome, which she says made her quite happy! She is now part of BP's Team Invigorate, along with ultra marathoner Linda Quirk (whose story you read on the dailySpark!) and pro surfer Ryan Helm. BP has a new gasoline that helps your vehicles run younger for longer, and now BP and Torres have kicked off the Younger for Longer Challenge. BP will award one lucky grand prize winner $10,000 in BP gasoline, plus a trip to meet Torres, an athlete who truly embodies running “younger for longer.” About the Younger for Longer Challenge: BP will award one lucky grand prize winner $10,000 in BP gasoline, plus a trip to meet Torres. You have until midnight on November 1 to enter. You can enter the BP Younger for Longer Challenge by logging on to bpinvigorate.com and submitting a 300-word written essay answering the question, “What keeps you running younger for longer?” to explain how they personify the “younger for longer” benefits of BP gasoline with Invigorate. In addition to the grand prize, BP and Dara Torres will award 20 of the top entrants with gas for a year, valued at more than $2,000. BP will announce the winners in December and feature their stories on a special section of bpinvigorate.com. How does Torres' story inspire you? Did you tune in to watch her at the Beijing Games? |
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