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Torres Lowers 50 Freestyle Record

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A Tribune staff, wire report

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 7, 2008

OMAHA, Neb. - OMAHA, Neb. - Dara Torres already knew she was going to the Olympics. That's not good enough anymore.

The 41-year-old Torres, a former Florida Gator, won the 50-meter freestyle Sunday night at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials with another American record, giving her the chance to swim two individual events in Beijing.

She's already done what no one thought possible, returning from her second retirement - and just two years removed from having a child - to reclaim her place as America's most dominant female sprinter. She'll be the oldest American ever to swim at the Olympics.

"I can't sit here and lie and say, 'I'm just glad I'm going,'" said Torres, who'll be in her fifth Games. "I want a medal."

Having already won the 100 free Friday, Torres got off to the third-slowest start in the most frenetic lap in swimming. But she was in control midway through, touching in 24.25 seconds to eclipse the mark of 24.38 she set Saturday.
Jessica Hardy claimed the second Olympic spot in 24.82.

In the final race of the eight-day meet, Peter Vanderkaay (14:45.54) pulled off an upset by beating U.S. record holder Larsen Jensen (14:50.80) in the 1,500-meter freestyle.

Clearwater's Robert Margalis made his third appearance in a final and finished seventh in the 1,500 free in 15:19.96.

The closest Margalis came to making the team was on opening day of the trials, when he finished third in the 400 IM.

This was Margalis' third trials without making the Olympic team. In 2000, he was third in two events. Although he's 26 - relatively old for a world-class swimmer - Margalis said he has no plans of retiring.

"I'm having too much fun and that's the main goal," he said.

Staff writer Bill Ward

contributed to this report.

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