Dara Torres facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Dara Torres

Torres waves to the crowd after winning a silver medal in 50-meter freestyle at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Personal information
Nickname(s)	"DT"
Born	(1967-04-15) April 15, 1967 (age 58) Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 11 in
Weight	150 lb
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Butterfly, freestyle
Club	Culver City Swim Club Mission Viejo Nadadores
College team	University of Florida
Coach	Randy Reese Mark Schubert Richard Quick
Medal record Women's swimming Representing  United States Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 4 4 4 World Championships (LC) 0 1 0 Pan Pacific Championships 3 0 0 Pan American Games 1 0 0 Total 8 5 4 Olympic Games Gold 1984 Los Angeles 4×100 m freestyle Gold 1992 Barcelona 4×100 m freestyle Gold 2000 Sydney 4×100 m freestyle Gold 2000 Sydney 4×100 m medley Silver 1988 Seoul 4×100 m medley Silver 2008 Beijing 50 m freestyle Silver 2008 Beijing 4×100 m freestyle Silver 2008 Beijing 4×100 m medley Bronze 1988 Seoul 4×100 m freestyle Bronze 2000 Sydney 50 m freestyle Bronze 2000 Sydney 100 m freestyle Bronze 2000 Sydney 100 m butterfly World Championships (LC) Silver 1986 Madrid 4×100 m freestyle Pan Pacific Championships Gold 1987 Brisbane 100 m freestyle Gold 1987 Brisbane 4×100 m freestyle Gold 1987 Brisbane 4×100 m medley Pan American Games Gold 1983 Caracas 4×100 m freestyle

Dara Grace Torres is an amazing American swimmer. She won 12 Olympic medals and set world records in three events. Dara was the first swimmer from the United States to compete in five Olympic Games. These were in 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, and 2008.

When she was 41 years old, Dara became the oldest swimmer to join the U.S. Olympic team. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, she won three silver medals. She earned these in the 50-meter freestyle race and two relay events. Dara's 12 Olympic medals (four gold, four silver, four bronze) tied the record for the most Olympic women's swimming medals at that time.

Early Life and First Swims

Dara Torres was born on April 15, 1967, in Los Angeles, California. She was one of six children. When she was seven, she started swimming at the local YMCA, just like her older brothers. Soon after, she joined a swimming club in Culver City to train more seriously.

By age 14, Dara was already a national champion. She won the 50-yard freestyle, beating the current champion. She went to Westlake School for Girls and was on their swim team. She also played basketball, gymnastics, and volleyball. Before her first Olympics, she trained with the Mission Viejo Nadadores.

College Swimming Success

Dara earned a scholarship to the University of Florida. She swam for the Florida Gators team from 1986 to 1989. During her time there, she won many championships. She earned nine individual titles in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

Dara also won three national championships in 1988. She was part of six relay teams that won national titles. She was named the SEC Athlete of the Year in 1988. She also earned 28 All-American honors, which is the most a college swimmer can get. Dara even played volleyball for Florida after her swimming eligibility ended. She graduated in 1990 and was later honored in the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.

Olympic Journey and Comebacks

Dara Torres in 1984

Dara Torres competed in her first Olympics in Los Angeles when she was just 17. She won a gold medal as part of the U.S. women's 4×100-meter freestyle relay team.

At the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, Dara won two more medals. She earned a bronze in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay. She also won a silver medal in the 4×100-meter medley relay.

For the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Dara won another gold medal. She was part of the winning 4×100-meter freestyle relay team.

First Comeback: Sydney 2000

After taking seven years off from competitive swimming, Dara decided to make a comeback in 1999. A comeback means returning to a sport after a long break. She trained hard and it paid off! At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, she won five medals.

She won two gold medals in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay and the 4×100-meter medley relay. She also earned three bronze medals in individual races: the 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter butterfly, and 100-meter freestyle. At 33 years old, Dara was the oldest woman to win an Olympic swimming medal. She won more medals than any other U.S. swimmer on the team that year.

Second Comeback: Beijing 2008

Dara Torres at the Missouri Grand Prix in 2008

Dara made another amazing comeback for the 2008 Olympics. She was 40 years old and had just had her first child 16 months earlier. In 2007, she won the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. Nationals. She also set a new American record in the 50-meter freestyle.

At the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, Dara qualified for her fifth Olympic Games at age 41. This was a first for an American female swimmer! She became the oldest U.S. Olympic swimmer ever. To show she was competing fairly, Dara volunteered for extra drug testing. She wanted everyone to know she was "clean" and achieving her success through hard work.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Dara won three silver medals. She earned one in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay. This was her fifth time winning a medal in this event. She became the oldest swimmer to win an Olympic medal in history. She also won a silver medal in the 50-meter freestyle, setting a new American record. Just minutes later, she won another silver in the 4×100-meter medley relay. Her part in this relay was the fastest 100-meter freestyle split ever in a relay!

Dara's 12 Olympic medals tied the record for a female Olympic swimmer.

Retirement and Life Beyond the Pool

After the 2008 Olympics, Dara continued to compete for a short time. She aimed for the 2012 Olympics but placed fourth in the 50-meter freestyle trials. Only the top two qualified, so she ended her Olympic career there.

Dara officially retired from competitive swimming after the 2012 trials. Her incredible Olympic career spanned 24 years, from 1984 to 2008.

Outside of swimming, Dara has worked as a reporter and announcer for TV networks like NBC and ESPN. She was also the first elite swimmer to model swimwear in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She has written two books: Age is Just a Number: Achieve Your Dreams at Any Stage in Your Life and Gold Medal Fitness: A Revolutionary 5-Week Program.

Dara Torres in the 2010 Heart Truth fashion show

Dara is also involved in charity work. She supports Swim Across America, which raises money for cancer research. She is also Vice-President on the board of directors for the American chapter of the foundation of Princess Charlene of Monaco. In 2019, she joined a health and wellness company. In June 2024, Dara Torres was named the Head Swimming and Diving Coach at Boston College.

World Records

Dara Torres set several world records during her career.

50 Meter Freestyle

Women's 4×100-meter freestyle relay

Women's 4×100-meter medley relay

See also

In Spanish: Dara Torres para niños

• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists in one event
• List of multiple Olympic medalists in one event
• List of multiple Summer Olympic medalists
• List of notable Jewish swimmers
• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (women)
• List of United States records in swimming
• List of University of Florida alumni
• List of University of Florida Olympians
• List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members
• List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (women)
• World record progression 50 metres freestyle
• World record progression 4 × 100 metres freestyle relay
• World record progression 4 × 100 metres medley relay