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