Dara Torres through the years

Dara Torres of the United States prepares to compete in the Women’s 50m Freestyle Heats.   (Lars Baron, Bongarts/Getty Images)

Dara Torres  (Paul Buck / EPA)

U.S. swimmer Dara Torres competes during the women’s 50m freestyle swimming semifinal at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing.   (TIMOTHY CLARY, AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

U.S. swimmer Dara Torres competes during the women’s 50m freestyle swimming semifinal at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing.  (MARTIN BUREAU, AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

U.S. swimmer Dara Torres competes during the women’s 50m freestyle swimming semifinal at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing.   (TIMOTHY CLARY, AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

U.S. swimmer Dara Torres competes during the women’s 50m freestyle swimming semifinal at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing.   (TIMOTHY CLARY, AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

Dara Torres of the USA smiles as she relaxes before a training session at the National Aquatics Center, also known as the Bird’s Nest, in preparation for the upcoming Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Torres, a 41-year-old mother, is competing in Beijing 24 years after winning her first Olympic gold. Torres owns nine Olympic medals, starting with that first relay gold in 1984.   (GREG WOOD, AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

Dara Torres of the U.S. prepares to jump off the blocks during a training session at the National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube, in preperation for the Beijing Olympic Games 2008, in Beijing. Torres, a 41-year-old mother who has competed in five Olympics, arrived in Beijing 24 years after winning her first Olympic gold.   (TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

Dara Torres of the U.S. smiles as she emerges from the water wearing a swimmer’s snorkel during a training session at the National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube, in preperation for the Beijing Olympic Games 2008, in Beijing. Torres, a 41-year -old mother who has competed in five Olympics, arrived in Beijing 24 years after winning her first Olympic gold.   (TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

Members of the US team Natalie Coughlin (L), Dara Torres (2nd L), Kara Lynn Joyce and Lacey Nymeyer aknowledge the crowd before the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay swimming final.  (TIMOTHY CLARY, AFP/Getty Images)