Dara Torres

(1967 - )

 

Dara Torres was born in Beverly Hills, California. She is asprinter who held the world best time in the 50m freestyle from 1983-'86 (25.62), and set the American record in the 100m freestyle (55.30) in 1988. Torres retired from swimming for the first time in 1989, after a stellar career at the University of Florida, including 28 All-America honors. She then began a career in television, taking a post as a sports research assistant for NBC.

In January 1991, after two years away from the pool, Torres put her TV career on hold and began training for the 1992 Games. With three Olympic relay team medals to her credit (1984: 400m freestyle, gold; 1988: 400m medley, silver; 400m freestyle, bronze), her aim was to win an individual medal. Within weeks of her comeback, Torres was setting records in the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly. Though she fell short of her personal goal, Torres won gold as a member of the world-record setting 400m freestyle relay team in Barcelona. In the fall of 1992, Torres returned to broadcasting, working as a host and reporter for the Discovery Channel, ESPN, TNT and Fox News Channel, as well as a spokesperson for the Tae-Bo workout tapes.

By 2000, Dara had won 9 Olympic Medals in four Olympics and become one of the most recognizable female athletes.

Courtesy of:

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Torres.html