Dara Torres says leaving daughter for Olympics will be difficult

Dara Torres‘ upset win in the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. swim trials on Friday means the 41-year-old is Beijing-bound, where she’ll compete in the Olympic games for an unprecedented fifth time.  While it’s a happy turn of events that left Dara herself feeling "shocked," the trip will nonetheless be "bittersweet," Dara said, for it means she’ll need to spend up to a month away from her 2-year-old daughter, Tessa Grace.  Such a prolonged absence is something Dara said will be "real hard emotionally." Regardless of the distance between them, Tessa will no doubt serve as good motivation for Dara, as she did on Friday along with the memory of Dara’s late father.  Said Dara after the race,

I started thinking about my father. He passed away 1 ½ years ago. I hadn’t told him I was making a comeback after I already started. I was thinking he was with me in that race. It kind of helped me at the end a bit. I was also thinking about my daughter and my family that was in the stands.

Tessa is Dara’s daughter with partner David Hoffman.

Source: TSN; Photo Christinne Muschi/Reuters/Landov.

Comments

this is a sweet statement, but why cant her daughter go visit her during the olympics? it seems like her husband could easily fly with her daughter for a week or so..

- Melissa on July 7th, 2008

I am sure that when she is older, little Tessa will be so proud of her mother’s accomplishments (and there are many)

- carla at somethingaboutbaby.com on July 7th, 2008

Melissa,
Going to Beijing for the Olympics is prohibitively expensive. The USOC only pays for one ticket and without assistance it can otherwise cost $25,000 or more per person. Also, Dara wouldn’t get to see much of Tessa anyway – the days are filled with training, acclimating and official duties. It is a bummer, but when Tessa grows up she will burst with pride at what her Mommy did.

- Susan on July 7th, 2008

Its got nothing to do with money. A great deal of Dara’s success is attributed to the fact that she’s got nothing but money to throw at all of the trainers and physical manipulations that help to keep her uber fit — even at 41! I’m a swimmer. Her times are incredible. She is a super competitive athlete and her time in China will be spent in total focus. She wouldn’t want her family there because she cannot afford even a single distraction.

- Nicola on July 7th, 2008

Dara is not only an inspiration to other athletes, but also to mothers! I am SO EXCITED to watch the Olympics and I know I’ll be rooting for her, along with Tessa and the rest of the U.S. in Beijing in August.

- Sarah on July 7th, 2008

I think it would be better for Tessa to stay at home with her dad, since pollution is so overwhelming in China. Many of the athletes are waiting until the last minute to arrive, in order to minimize the impact on their respiratory systems. Imagine how it would affect a two-year-old! I know the separation will be hard, but probably best for Tessa — and as Nicola noted, Dara will be able to focus on her sport.

- MP on July 7th, 2008

Dara isn’t the only athlete that will be feeling those “away from my children” pangs. There’s hundreds of athletes, coaches, and trainers at the 2008 summer Olympics that are parents so they will all be missing their children. It is so amazing Dara will be there at her fifth Olympics at the age of 41! So many people were saying she was cheating, she had to be taking supplements or something because no way could a 41 year old woman beat out 18 year olds in swimming. So good on Dara for showing people they were wrong, and that age doesn’t matter, but dedication and willpower does. I’m not American, but I’d root for her as long as there wasn’t a Canadian in the heat.

- DLR on July 7th, 2008

I am a swimmer and have been on a competitive team since the age of 2 1/2. Yes you read that correctly, 2 1/2! I only watch the summer Olympics to see the swimming and the gymnastics. I have actually trained with some of the swimmers on Olympic teams before and it is amazing to watch! I cant wait to see her and Michael!

- Allison on July 7th, 2008

MP, you do know that people live in Beijing? If it was so unhealthy there, the population would not be millions because they would’ve died by now.

I was just there yesterday and the skies were blue and it was beatiful.

- Sarita on July 7th, 2008

I’ve met Dara a few times at a mutual playdate and Tessa is such a sweet little girl,she speaks fluent spanish and tried to talk to my daughter in a mix of spanish and english- too cute!!
I wish Dara all the best in the Olympics and I’m sure her daughter will be so proud of her when she can fully understand what the Olympics are!!

- Kelly on July 8th, 2008

MP is correct that China has a huge pollution problem, but Sarita is also right that the image American’s see on TV is overblown.

I brought my family to China for vacation last December. My wife, myself and my son all have asthma and none of us had a problem.

We had a wonderful time. In the future, if we can afford to go back, we will!

- Scott in NH on August 10th, 2008

She doesnt at all look like she is fourty one, i know youger people who cant even make one lap in the pool. But all though she is an olympic swimmer wouldnt it be nice to have you daughter visit you in bejing???
im sure tessa would understand what her mother does, wouldnt shee?

- domonique on August 16th, 2008