Olympian Dara Torres on USA uniform controversy, athletes hooking up during the olympics and retirement

Newly retired olympian Dara Torres will not be competing in this year’s Olympics but that is not stopping her and many other athletes from weighing in on the recent controversy over USA uniforms that were made in China. Torres says, “We all want to see the global economy do well but here in the US the economy is not too good either. So you know…wearing the US uniform, going out there, representing the United States…would be nice if it was actually made in the United States.”

The Olympic swimmer who also holds 3 world records and 12 olympic medals is sharing her thoughts on soccer star Hope Solo’s comments about partying and hooking up between athletes during the Olympics. Torres says, “Sometimes its tough… everyone is pretty much laser focused and getting ready for the events … the swim teams and teams that I’ve been on were really set in getting ready and focusing on our goals but once the swimming is over…yea the athletes tend to go out and we have our curfews… but its not to say that little things don’t happen here and there.”  The swimming star added, “I mean you’re in a village with the hottest athletes in the world, the most competitive and they’re the top athletes in their sport. So some things are bound to happen here and there.”

Torres who has spent 20 years of competing for Olympic gold admits that she “thought she had a pretty decent shot making the team,” but after coming in 4th in the 2012 olympic trials decided to retire. The 45-year-old says, “I knew I had my work cut out for me…I had lots of obstacles, I had major knee reconstructive surgery, my coach passed away a little over a year ago and so there are a lot of up and downs but you know I went out there, I gave it everything I had and…even though I didn’t make it, I know I left no stones unturned.”