As far as retirements go, Dara Torres’ haven’t always stuck.
The gold-medal swimmer first retired from the sport after competing in the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games. Torres then came out of retirement at age 33 for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, and became the oldest woman to win an Olympic medal in swimming. She announced her second retirement after that, but, again, it didn’t last. In 2008, Torres competed in her fifth and final Olympics, ending her competitive career as one of the most decorated female athletes in history.
So, when the famed swimmer sent out a tweet on April Fool’s Day last year announcing yet another comeback, it made people wonder. Was it really a joke?
Indeed, it was. Now, Torres tells “Oprah: Where Are They Now?” that as much as she still loves swimming, there’s one big roadblock that prevents her from competing at the Olympic level anymore.
“If I could swim the race once and just go up there and give it my all, I think I would do OK,” Torres says. “But the fact that now you have to swim preliminaries, semi-finals and finals ― swim the race three times ― to qualify for an Olympics, it’s just too hard on my body.”
At 49 years old, Torres adds that she can’t help but be acutely aware of her age ― and how close she is to 50.
“All of a sudden, it just hit me,” she says. “I was like, ‘Thirty wasn’t bad and 40 wasn’t bad. But 50, that’s a half a century. That sounds really old!’”
Of course, if age 50 is anything like 49 for Torres, it’s hard to imagine much changing for the former Olympian. “I don’t feel like I ‘feel’ 49,” she says. “I love working out. I box, I still swim, I do barre method. I just do a lot of things that keep me in shape.”
In the meantime, Torres has another nine months to wrap her head around reaching that milestone birthday.
“I don’t know what to expect at 50,” she admits. “It’s just another year to me. Another birthday. But it just sounds kind of old.”
“Oprah: Where Are They Now?” will air an all-new special with follow-ups on Olympic legends like Nadia Comaneci and Carl Lewis on Sunday, July 24, at 10 p.m. ET on OWN. Watch a preview.
Another update from an Olympic swimmer:
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.