Dara Torres's Abs and the Average Woman's Body Image

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I am a 42 year old mother of 4 boys (all c-sections) and think Tara is fantastic. As for her body people have to understand keeping in shape in order to compete is her job. She works at it several hours each day. It takes hard work and dedication that most people don't have. For myself I am 5'2" and weigh 120 with a total body fat of 13%. I by no means look like Tara but I work hard at watching what I eat and making sure I am in the gym or outside running 5-6 days a week. It is my stress relief and I enjoy taking care of myself. I don't plan on letting up anytime soon.

Dana S of CA 3:51PM August 11, 2008

Cut the woman a break. You all are right in one aspect, the vast majority of us will not CHOOSE to have access to coaches, therapists, etc. However, it's our choice. I can assure you most of the athletes she's swimming against DO have access, and DO make the choice to use the coaches and what not. This makes her success even more impressive.
As for looks, she's hot! I've never heard a woman mention Jason Alexander or Jerry Seinfeld's physique. They talk about Brad Pitt's Fight Club abs... Cammy is right about this, some people are hot, some, not so much. Stop hating on the girl for CHOOSING to eat right, exercise, and spend money on being healthy. What would all our health rates look like if we spent more time and money they way that Dara Torres has chosen?

Steve of NC 8:45AM August 11, 2008

Being a 43 year old ex-competitive swimmer, I can see Dara giving alot of people inspiration to continue to perform well after their peak years. I got back into swimming for fitness after a 20 plus year hiatus a few years ago, after I swore I would never do another lap again. It is a shame that I walked away from something I did so well as a teen. Seeing her as the anchor in the 4 X 100m women's free relay was truly an amazing feat. She almost won the gold for the US! Now I want to swim competitively again! Thanks Dara for bringing a smile to an aging swimmer!

A. Liu 9:14AM August 10, 2008

Dara looks fantastic and her hard work shows! I find it amazing that people think you need to have tons of cash and live in the gym to look like that...not the case at all. I'm 39 yrs old and I've been competing in bodybuilding for over 8 yrs. I'm married, mother of 2 girls and work full time. I train hard and eat clean...it's that simple.
Age is only a number and any woman can look like that if she's willing to put in some hard work!

Kim of MA 5:32AM August 07, 2008

Aren’t you being hypocritical – your title of the article singles out ”Dara Torres's Abs” and then in the first “mental note” you tell us “Those with a healthy body image generally see themselves as a whole rather than a package of their flaws—the same way we all look at other people.” Why are you seeing only Dara’s abs and not the whole package?
And I laughed when I read that you were “somewhat comforted to learn from the New York Times Magazine that to get that body (and achieve world class performance), Torres employs three coaches, two stretchers, two massage therapists, a chiropractor, and a nanny, at the cost of at least $100,000 per year.” Like somehow you (and so many others) think that if you had those resources you could look like Torres – come on! Sure it helps to have a great support system, but SHE is the one doing the work – they don’t swim for her, they don’t lift weights for her. Anyone who thinks stretchers are “great” – try having someone stand on and mash your muscles after you’ve been working out hard for an hour and a half. And by the way, her sponsors foot most of the $100,000 per year cost of her training.
While you I applaud New York Times blogger Tara Parker Pope, I say that she misses seeing Torres as a whole package too. It might have been the “Robert Maxwell portrait of the phenomenally ripped Torres made her, understandably, a topic of breathless conversation on the morning chat shows, held up as a physical ideal for mothers, women at or approaching middle age, and just women in general” as Pope’s colleague stated, but what you and Pope fail to see or address is Torres’s attitude, her drive and her spirit. Those are the qualities in her that I see that remind me that I can be a stronger, more fit, healthier person – that’s what makes me get off my ass and get to it.

LWagz of TX 6:07PM August 05, 2008

I bought two copies of the Time mag that she was on.How can any elite, world-class athlete ever look disgusting? Check out the pictures she did for Maxim HOT...check out the photos on her own official web site. She's an athlete with the body and the looks..get over it.. Maybe those who find it disgusting are projecting a bit..maybe they're really enticed by her and therefore are running from it;)

Jen King - pekin of IL 6:37PM August 03, 2008

I think everyone that thinks Dara's body is "discusting" are just jealous that they don't look like that at FORTY-ONE YEARS of age!
Keep telling yourself that she looks "discusting"--that won't make you any skinnier or in better shape ;)
Good luck Dara in Beijing. You looked great on the cover TimeMagazine!

Caro of FL 5:30PM August 03, 2008

she is beautiful, but not "sexy" to me. looks more like a man

mmatacak of AL 3:18PM August 03, 2008

I see many women who have toned and trim bodies. I also see many women that don't. However, it appears that women who are unsatisfied with their shape often seek to advance the idea that toned women are a rarity. IMO that is as much a self-defeating approach as thinking that all women should be toned and trim.

pov of 6:49PM August 02, 2008

I see many women who have toned and trim bodies. I also see many women that don't. However, it appears that women who are unsatisfied with their shape often seek to advance the idea that toned women are a rarity. IMO that is as much a self-defeating approach as thinking that all women should be toned and trim.

pov of 6:49PM August 02, 2008