Torres Shows She's a Good Sport, Then Blows Away the Field

Dara Torres is old enough to be most of her competitors' mother, so it's fitting that she is serving as the swim world's matriarch.

The final seconds before a swim race are all about focus. And that's never more true than in the 50-meter freestyle. One slight hesitation at the start and you're finished, because there just isn't enough water to make up for an early mistake.

So that makes what Torres did Friday night seem so unexpected.

As the eight swimmers for Torres' semifinal headed out to the blocks, Sweden's Therese Alshammar's suit ripped. At first Torres tried to help her fix it, but when it became clear that Alshammar's suit was too far gone to be saved, Torres ran over to the side of the pool to flag down an official to make sure that they didn't start the race until Alshammar had run off and gotten changed.

Alshammar rushed back to the blocks in her new suit. Torres settled down, refocused, hopped up on the blocks and then blistered the rest of the field, getting off to the best start on her way to recording the best time of anyone in the semifinals.

Coming into tomorrow, she's the favorite to win the gold, even if she's 41.

Old woman Torres is already an unreal story, but what jumped out is how she's clearly feeling no pressure. Even though she's never won an individual gold, the reality is that she's not supposed to be here, so all of this is just an extra helping of dessert on what's already been an unreal career. And so if it means helping out a fellow swimmer or joking with her competitors, Torres is happy to do it.

Dara Torres Snapshots

US swimmer Dara Torres competes during the women's 50m freestyle swimming heat at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing on August 15, 2008. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Australia's Cate Campbell (L) and US swimmer Dara Torres competes during the women's 50m freestyle swimming heat at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing on August 15, 2008. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Cate Campbell of Australia (L) and US swimmer Dara Torres (R) competes during the women's 50m freestyle swimming heat at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing on August 15, 2008. AFP PHOTO / GREG WOOD (Photo credit should read GREG WOOD/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Cate Campbell of Australia is congratulated by Dara Torres (R) of the U.S. after their women's 50m freestyle swimming heat at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, August 15, 2008. REUTERS/Jason Reed (CHINA)

Reuters

United States' Dara Torres reacts after a women's 50-meter freestyle heat during the swimming competitions in the National Aquatics Center at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 15, 2008. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Dara Torres of the U.S. jumps into the pool at the start of her women's 50m freestyle swimming heat at the National Aquatics Center during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 15, 2008. REUTERS/Shaun Best (CHINA)

Reuters

United States' Dara Torres prepares for a women's 50-meter freestyle heat during the swimming competitions in the National Aquatics Center at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 15, 2008. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Dara Torres of the U.S. looks at the scoreboard after swimming in the women's 50m freestyle heats at the National Aquatics Center during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 15, 2008. REUTERS/Shaun Best (CHINA)

Reuters