Call her the ageless wonder.
Former Gator Dara Torres, the 41-year-old who has made waves with her performance in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, closed out the trials in style by setting a new American record in the 50-meter freestyle. Torres notched her second Olympic berth on Sunday with a first-place time of 24.25.
The UF legend made history as the first female swimmer to qualify for five Olympic games. Torres qualified for her first Olympic appearance in 1984 and went on to qualify for the 1988, 1992 and 2000 Olympic games.
But that isn't the only reason Torres has been such a hot topic of conversation in this year's trials. She recorded a lifetime best 53.76 in the 100-meter freestyle semifinals and finished first in the finals of the event with a time of 53.78.
However, USA Swimming announced Monday that Torres will drop the 100-meter free from her program because of concern that competing in two individual events and possibly two relays during the eight-day competition would be too hard on her body.
Torres also reclaimed the American and meet records in the semifinals of the 50-meter freestyle with her time of 24.38. Both records previously belonged to her but were broken in the preliminaries and again in the first heat of the semifinals on day seven. She then logged a first-place finals swim of 24.25 to qualify for Beijing and reset the American record for the eighth time.
Torres will not be the only UF graduate to represent the U.S. in Beijing. 2008 graduate Caroline Burckle qualified for the 200-meter freestyle after finishing the finals in fourth with a career-best time of 1:57.93. The NCAA Swimmer of the Year will also swim as a member of the 4x200-meter freestyle relay in the Olympics.
Also representing the U.S. will be Gator great Ryan Lochte, who will compete in three individual events: the 400-meter individual medley, the 200-meter IM and the 200-meter backstroke.
Nine other current or former Gators have qualified to represent their native countries in Beijing: Bradley Ally (Barbados); Brett and Shaune Fraser (Cayman Islands); Gabriel Mangabeira (Brazil); Ricardo Monasterio (Venezuela); Omar Pinzon (Colombia); Adam Sioui (Canada); Gemma Spofforth (Great Britain); and J.B. Walsh (Philippines).
As if that weren't enough representation, USA Swimming named UF head coach Gregg Troy as an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic team on Sunday.
"Anytime you have the chance to be a part of the U.S. Olympic team, it's an honor," Troy said. "It's also an honor and a tribute to my staff. I'm glad to have been surrounded by so much help and so many great athletes."
