Another U.S. Swimmer Makes Olympic History

BEIJING, Aug. 18, 2008 — -- Dara Torres, who at 41 is the oldest American swimmer to ever compete in the Olympics, snagged three silver medals in Beijing.

But Torres, who began swimming when she was 7 years old, admits it was tough missing out on getting her first individual gold medal. In one race, the 50 meter freestyle, she came in second by a mere one hundredth of a second.

"I spoke to my coach Michael on the phone, and I said, I don't know I did wrong, why I lost by a hundredth of a second," Torres said in a one-on-one interview with ABC News' David Muir.

"He said, 'Dear, I watched the race over and over again. You made no mistakes. … There's nothing you could have done to change what you did. You swam your best time."

Her best time won her more than a silver medal; it also set an American record.

A 'Mom' to Michael Phelps

Although she wished for a gold medal, Torres is proud of her accomplishments in Beijing. She is also proud of someone else, another American star who calls her "mom," Michael Phelps.

"He just did an amazing job," Torres said with pride, referring to Phelps' eight gold medals and seven world records in Beijing.

"I can't even imagine anyone doing that again. I think he's definitely made history. It's going to be very tough for someone to repeat what he has done."

Making Her Own History

It will also be tough for anyone to repeat what Torres has accomplished. She is the only American swimmer to have competed in five Olympics (1984, 1988, 1992, 2000 and 2008). When she competed in her first Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984, the thought of swimming in an Olympics 24 years later was beyond her imagination.

"I didn't even think I'd be in the next Olympics ... in 1988," Torres told ABC News.

Twelve Olympic medals later at the age of 41, Torres returned to the pool to win a spot in her fifth Olympic Games, unprecedented for an American female swimmer, especially since she did not compete in the 1996 and 2004 Olympic Games.

Dara Torres: Olympic Success and Mother

In Beijing, Torres has defied expectations with her success. But for Torres, her record-breaking combination of age and athleticism is nothing new. The Beijing Olympic Games are not the first time she has been the oldest American swimmer. In the 2000 Sydney Games, Torres was the oldest member of the U.S. swim team at 33. But that didn't stop her from bringing home five medals, including two golds.

Even members of her own family are surprised by her long-lasting athletic prowess. When Torres first began making her comeback, her mother couldn't believe she was back in the pool.

"I am sure she can't believe she had another Olympic Games again," Torres said. But it was her mother, after all, who brought her to the pool at age 7 to learn how to swim.

Like Mother, Like Daughter?

When Torres returns home to California, she'll resume the same role her mother played more than three decades ago. Torres is taking her daughter to school -- and to the pool.

Dara hopes one day her Olympic experience -- and her passion for the pool -- will make her daughter proud. "You don't put an age on the dreams. Just follow your heart."