Ageless Torres Sets US Record at 42

Dara Torres, the 42-year-old swimmer who won three silver medals in the Beijing Olympics last summer, is back at it again. Despite squaring off against people sometimes half her age, she continues to dazzle. The latest? She took down Jenny Thompson's six-year-old record in the women's 50-meter butterfly.

This record was achieved in a senior circuit event, so the competition may not have been quite as stiff, but her time was still good enough for the United States record. Even more impressive for Torres, via her own Twitter page, is that she hadn't swam the butterfly since the 2000 Olympics. At all (again, according to her).

"Ok, this is too crazy but I just broke the American Record in the 50 fly this am! Haven't swum a lick of fly since the 2000 Olympics!!"

Once a world-class athlete, always a world-class athlete, huh? Torre just continues to be an inspiration to aging athletes everywhere. Though it doesn't seem likely, we can't exactly count Torres out for the 2012 London Games -- especially since she's acknowledged it's possible.

Hat-tip: Game On

Dara Torres Photos

Dara Torres promotes her book "Age is Just a Number" at Bookends Bookstore on April 8, 2009 in Ridgewood, New Jersey..Dara Torres Signs Copies Of Her Book "Age Is Just A Number" - April 8, 2009.Bookends Bookstore.Ridgewood, NJ United States.April 8, 2009.Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage.com..To license this image (57159505), contact WireImage.com

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AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 05: Dara Torres after winning the Women's 50 LC Meter Freestyle during day one of the 2009 USA Swimming Austin Grand Prix on March 5, 2009 at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 05: Dara Torres swims in the Women's 50 yard Freestyle preliminaries during day one of the 2009 USA Swimming Austin Grand Prix on March 5, 2009 at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 16: United States Olympic swimmer Dara Torres skakes hands with Jose Molina #26 of the New York Yankees after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game against the Chicago White Sox on September 16, 2008 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 16: United States Olympic swimmer Dara Torres throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox on September 16, 2008 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 16: United States Olympic swimmer Dara Torres shakes hands with Andy Pettitte #46 of the New York Yankees before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game against the Chicago White Sox on September 16, 2008 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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BEIJING - AUGUST 17: Dara Torres of the United States arrives for the Speedo Athletes party at Wish on August 17, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Getty Images for Speedo)

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BEIJING - AUGUST 17: Dara Torres of the United States arrives for the Speedo Athletes party at Wish on August 17, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Getty Images for Speedo)

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BEIJING - AUGUST 17: Dara Torres of the United States arrives for the Speedo Athletes party at Wish on August 17, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Getty Images for Speedo)

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BEIJING - AUGUST 17: (L-R) Dara Torres, Rebecca Soni, Natalie Coughlin and Christine Magnuson of the United States show off their silver medals in the Women's 50m Freestyle final held at the National Aquatics Centre during Day 9 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 17, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

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