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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Twelve-time Olympic medalist wants one more

Dara Torres’ focus is set on the 50-meter freestyle.  (Associated Press)
Craig Davis Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – What do you do after you’ve climbed Everest and walked on the moon?

Leave it to Dara Torres to come up with an encore to an Olympic swimming career without precedent.

Winning three silver medals at age 41 in 2008 made her the oldest Olympic swimming medalist in her fifth Games – she has won a record-tying 12 medals overall. Now Torres, of Parkland, Fla., is training for one more reprise in 2012, just a year after undergoing radical knee surgery, as well as a procedure on her left shoulder in May.

“It’s kind of fun to have the challenge of it to see if I can do it or not,” Torres said. “I always enjoy challenges. It’s different this time because I don’t feel like I have anything to prove.”

In the early stages of the comeback, her daily routine is a delicate balance between rehab and preparation for competition. She cannot yet kick full force in the water or subject her left knee to the stresses of a start, but the doctor says her recovery is six months ahead of schedule, and she hopes to swim in a meet by next spring.

When ready, Torres said she will concentrate only on the 50-meter freestyle, the event she missed winning by .01-second at Beijing.

“She has fun doing it,” said Michael Lohberg, her coach. “Quite frankly, if somebody is having fun doing something, why would they stop?”

Observe Torres through a two-hour workout at Coral Springs Aquatic Complex and it does appear as simple as that. She is relaxed in the water, at work but peaceful, she said. Clearly enjoying camaraderie of teammates half her age as her iPod blares a mix ranging from classic rock to hip hop.

It was 1984 when Torres was the “bouncy, energetic kid in awe of everyone else” at her first Olympics. The energy level is the constant that bridges the generation gap when other things change.

“There was one girl, Led Zeppelin was on, and she said, ‘Who’s he?’ Like, they have no clue who some of the best artists in the world are. It’s kind of funny,” Torres said of the younger swimmers. “I remember listening to Michael Jackson when his Thriller album first came out. I remember being in college and we had typewriters, we didn’t have computers. That’s how old I am.”