ESPN.com Writer Accuses Dara Torres of Using Performance-Enhancing Drugs

The 41-year-old American swimmer Dara Torres won the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. Olympic trials, and she credited her training regimen for her success at such an advanced age.

But ESPN.com's Pat Forde is not convinced. Forde thinks that the simplest explanation for a super-human athletic performance is that the athlete is using performance-enhancing drugs. He quotes Torres saying, "Anyone who makes any accusations, I see it as a compliment," and writes that she should "take this column as one long compliment."

The meat of Forde's argument is this:

It shouldn't even be possible for a woman in her 40s.
Which is the sticking point. This is all unprecedented -- and after years of being conned, we've become conditioned to question the unprecedented.

Who swims this well at that age? After having a child? Nobody. Ever.

Who takes six years off and comes back better than ever, lowering her best time in the 100 meters from 54.43 seconds in 2000 to 53.78 Friday night? Nobody. Ever.

Who has shoulder and knee surgery and comes back to whip women half her age less than a year later? Nobody. Ever.

Of course, for as long as sports have existed, we've been marveling at achievements that nobody ever accomplished before. Now we seem to have reached the point where instead of marveling, we scoff.

Dara Torres

Dara Torres leaves the starting block in the women's 50-meter freestyle preliminaries at the US Olympic swimming trials in Omaha, Neb., Saturday, July 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Dara Torres leaps off the starting block in the women's 50m freestyle at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Nebraska July 5, 2008. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes (UNITED STATES) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

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Dara Torres waves as she carries her daughter Tessa after winning the Women's 100m freestyle and qualifying for her fifth Olympic games at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, July 4, 2008 REUTERS/Christinne Muschi (UNITED STATES) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

Reuters

Dara Torres places her medal around her daughter Tessa after winning the Women's 100m freestyle and qualifying for her fifth Olympic games at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, July 4, 2008 REUTERS/Christinne Muschi (UNITED STATES) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

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OMAHA, NE - JULY 04: (L-R) Natalie Coughlin, Emily Silver, Dara Torres and Lacey Nymeyer celebrate after the final of the 100 meter freestyle during the U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials on July 4, 2008 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

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OMAHA, NE - JULY 04: Dara Torres, top, touches the wall ahead of Natalie Coughlin, bottom, in the final of the 100 meter freestyle during the U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials on July 4, 2008 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

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OMAHA, NE - JULY 04: Dara Torres holds daughter Tessa in the awards ceremony for the 100 meter freestyle during the U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials on July 4, 2008 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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OMAHA, NE - JULY 04: Dara Torres waves to the crowd after winning the final of the 100 meter freestyle and qualifying for her fifth Olympic team during the U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials on July 4, 2008 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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Dara Torres waves the US flag after winning the women's 100-meter freestyle final at the US Olympic swimming trials in Omaha, Neb., Friday, July 4, 2008. Torres, 41, qualified for her fifth Olympics. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)