American swimmer Dara Torres, the 12-time Olympic medalist who won three silver medals in Beijing, garnered attention outside of the pool this weekend as a model at New York's Fashion Week.The 41-year-old Torres walked the runway at a Chelsea studio on Sunday, modeling two looks from designer Charles Nolan's spring collection. During her first walk, she wore a striped tank top and swim shorts while carrying her 2-year-old daughter, Tessa. For her second walk, she sported a black jersey and taffeta dress.
"There was a girl (modeling) who said that she was really nervous and I said, 'Swimming in the Olympics is much more nerve-wracking,'" exclaimed Torres.
Nolan says that Torres was a perfect model for his designs. "It's one thing to look great at 41 -- it's another thing to be able to make the Olympic team competing against 16-year-olds, and then win a silver medal!"
Perhaps we should think about adding Torres to Asylum's picks for the sexiest Olympians ...
Dara Torres
In this photo provided by Dan & Corina Lecca, The Charles Nolan spring-summer 2009 collection is modeled by U.S. Olympic medalist Dara Torres holding her 2-year old daughter during Fashion Week Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Dan & Corina Lecca) NO SALES
AP
In this photo provided by Dan & Corina Lecca, The Charles Nolan spring-summer 2009 collection is modeled by U.S. Olympic medalist Dara Torres during Fashion Week Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Dan & Corina Lecca) ** NO SALES **
AP
Olympic swimmer Dara Torres presents a creation by Charles Nolan during the Spring/Summer 2009 collection during New York Fashion Week September 7, 2008. REUTERS/Joshua Lott (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Olympic swimmer Dara Torres presents a creation by Charles Nolan during the Spring/Summer 2009 collection during New York Fashion Week September 7, 2008. REUTERS/Joshua Lott (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Olympic swimmer Dara Torres presents a creation by Charles Nolan during the Spring/Summer 2009 collection during New York Fashion Week September 7, 2008. REUTERS/Joshua Lott (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Olympic swimmer Dara Torres presents a creation by Charles Nolan during the Spring/Summer 2009 collection during New York Fashion Week September 7, 2008. REUTERS/Joshua Lott (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
US swimmers Katie Hoff (L) and Dara Torres (R) arrive for a promotional event to celebrate the end of the Olympic swimming programme in Beijing on August 17, 2008. Hoff's ambitious six-event programme at the Beijing Olympics ended without yielding a gold medal as she failed to qualify for the final of the 800m freestyle. She was pipped for gold by Adlington in the 400m freestyle and settled for bronze in the 400m medley as Australian Stephanie Rice reclaimed the world record from the American, and nabbed a bronze in the 4x200m freestyle relay. Torres won silver in the 50-meter women's freestyle event. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
US swimmers Katie Hoff (L) and Dara Torres (R) arrive for a promotional event to celebrate the end of the Olympic swimming programme in Beijing on August 17, 2008. Hoff's ambitious six-event programme at the Beijing Olympics ended without yielding a gold medal as she failed to qualify for the final of the 800m freestyle. She was pipped for gold by Adlington in the 400m freestyle and settled for bronze in the 400m medley as Australian Stephanie Rice reclaimed the world record from the American, and nabbed a bronze in the 4x200m freestyle relay. Torres won silver in the 50-meter women's freestyle event. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
BEIJING - AUGUST 17: Dara Torres of the United States arrives for the Speedo Athletes party at Wish on August 17, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Getty Images for Speedo)
Getty Images
BEIJING - AUGUST 17: Dara Torres of the United States arrives for the Speedo Athletes party at Wish on August 17, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Getty Images for Speedo)
Getty Images
Hottest Olympians
15. Amanda Beard We give Amanda plenty of credit for her brave willingness to stand proud, even when faced with a full wardrobe of clothing.
PETA
14. Heather Mitts She's an incredible soccer player, but she still needs help buttoning up.
Karen Pearson, Retna
13. Serena Williams The tennis star always seems to be in the public eye. That's a very good thing.
Chris Gordon, WireImage.com
12. Amy Acuff The U.S. high jumper turned her Athens 2004 Olympic fame into a Playboy spread. We fully support that leap.
ZUMA Press / playboy.com
11. Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Besides looking fantastic in the sport's standard sport bikini, this pairing also happens to be the greatest in the history of women's beach volleyball.
Thomas Coex, AFP / Getty Images
9. Gretchen Bleiler Since we're not excluding the ladies of the winter Olympics, snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler has to make the list. She may be at home on the half-pipe, but she also looked pretty comfortable in Maxim and FHM spreads.
Jesse Grant, WireImage
8. Guo Jingjing This Chinese diver won gold in 2004 and says she plans to retire following the games in Beijing. We've already sent her brochures about retirement communities in the U.S.
Gerard Julien, AFP / Getty Images
7. Allison Baver This short track speed skater is so fast, she can barely even hear the male's in the crowd whistling as she cruises past.
Matthew Stockman, Getty Images
6. Alina Kabayeva This rhythmic gymnast from Russia is one of the most decorated athletes in the history of her sport. She is now a member of the Russian parliament, leading aspiring bureaucrats everywhere to start playing with rubber balls.
Tatyana Makeyeva, AFP/Getty Images
5. Candace Parker Known for being the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game, Parker was named to Team USA in 2008. She's welcome to school us, on or off the court, any day.
John Shearer, WireImage
Comments:
Add a comment
Monday 08 September
By Al
Great job Dara! And this is about a week after she had shoulder surgery!
Reply
Monday 08 September
By Lin
She would look great, but that "hairdo" absolutely ruins the total effect, especially with that black dress. Yeah, yeah, she has to have short hair to swim, but when she is not in the pool she looks like she has a permanent swimming cap on her head, and it is NOT a flattering look for such a pretty woman otherwise.
Reply
Monday 08 September
By Terry
NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA
NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA
NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA
NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA
NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA
NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA
Reply
Wednesday 10 September
By robinoden
It appears that Sarah Palin was for the "Bridge to Nowhere", however, she is now against the "Bridge to Nowhere". To me that is not important. What is important is that if this election is won by McCain-Palin, all of America will be on the "Bridge to Nowhere" for the next four years just as we have been for the past eight years. This "Bridge to Nowhere" will provide tax cuts for the rich and big corporations, no universal health care for working class Americans, no end to the Iraq war, an increase in the jobless rate, an increase in the national debt and no tax relief for middle and working class Americans. It is time to get off of this "Bridge to Nowhere". It is time to get on the "Bridge to Somewhere". You must vote for real change, we all know what kind of change McCain-Palin is talking about. No change at all! This election should be about issues not personalities. A vote for Obama is the only way we can get off of the " Bridge to Nowhere" and get onto the "Bridge to Somewhere".
Monday 08 September
By samantha
Looks nice but PLEASE put a wig on atleast while the hair grows out!
Reply
Monday 08 September
By Bonnie
WOW! She looks fantastic, the way an Olympian any age should look. Way to go, Dara!
Reply
Monday 08 September
By julio Iglesias
She looks like a guy dressed in drag
Tuesday 09 September
By jo
she looks like a he who became a she. scary!
Reply
Tuesday 09 September
By daddy-o
act your age
Reply
Tuesday 09 September
By Margaret
I am 42 and look better than this chick!
Reply
Wednesday 10 September
By John
You do not look better than Dara Margaret. I'm your cousin and I can attest to the fact that you are 5'4, at least 175lbs and live in a trailer, down by the river, along with the rest of our family. You are short, fat pock-marked bitter woman who lives off government cheese...
Wednesday 10 September
By lana
I don't think she is very attractive at all! At least not in a "model" sense. She's very masculine looking. She's got a fantastic bod for athletics, and I admire her, but she's just not runway material. I agree with what someone else said. She looks like a guy in drag.
Reply
Wednesday 10 September
By Brooke
Very Masculine.
Reply
Wednesday 10 September
By medbunny1
She has a very lean and muscular body but they needed to "fem" her up a bit.. she looks like a man in a dress. Who the heck did her hair? Even a spiky short style can look femanine if styled properly.
I do admire her though !!! Great job at the Olympics
Reply
Wednesday 10 September
By MedBunny1
oops.. feminine.. sorry for the error !
Wednesday 10 September
By MK
Googd for her! Go girl.
Reply
Wednesday 10 September
By Gary
So many trivial comments about her "hair"? So what?! She is beautiful in body and spirit What a wonderful example of what is good with our society and you petty snipes comment on the length of her hair......
To many petty, shallow, self-absorbed people populate these message boards.
Reply
Wednesday 10 September
By CHUCKIE
What?!? A mature woman (and a mom) with a real body modelling? What the heck? Hey, Dara Torres is an inspiration and role model for everyone, especially young women and girls...and young moms. Class, class, class...and good looking, too!!
Reply
Wednesday 10 September
By jill
It's hair for Pete's sake. When we will ever stop judging people on the way they look? When was the last time we read on AOL about a guy who looked old, gay or ugly because his hair was too long or too short? Today we had Dara, yesterday it was Posh, before that it was the Desperate Housewife actress and before her it was Katie Holmes. It's just hair, get a life!
Reply
Wednesday 10 September
By johnnyg
I've always found older women as sexier. They know what they have as a woman and use it. Whether it's their eyes, body, hair, walk, intelligence, sense of humor, or just being a woman. Dara has that "it" thing that people admire. The way younger folks feel about themselves could be made better if they'd step back and look at their moms for a while. They might learn a lot more about her than meets the eye. "Moms rock!"
Reply