SEATTLE – Your typical Olympics story usually involves a teenaged superstar doing things the rest of us can only dream of.

Dara Torres is no typical Olympics story.

She's also a long way from being a teenager. Torres is old enough to be the mother of some of her competitors.

At 41, Torres is making her fifth trip to the Games.

"It's really hard to see the scoreboard. I think it's age, but it took me a second to see that I won," said Torres.

Torres qualified in the 50 meter and 100 meter freestyle. On Sunday in the 50m, she broke her own American record set 26 years ago.

At this point, it appears Torres won't swim the 100 meters in Beijing.

Even though she has a two-year-old daughter, she maintains a Olympic-caliber physique.

"I believe. I really think that's the biggest thing is to believe you can do it. The water doesn't know what age you are when you jump in so, why not?" says Torres.

So score one for the legions of us wading gingerly into our fourth decade, who all too often strain a muscle while reaching for the remote.

At the Mountlake Terrace Pavilion, moms and kids hit the water. Kiki King, a 37-year-old mother of two who swam for the University of Washington and still runs half marathons says Torres is an inspiration.

"Just because you have kids doesn't mean you have to slow down," says King.

At almost 60, Karin Reddecliffe still lives in the fast lane. She says part of Torres' success is due to the low impact nature of the sport itself.

"Swimming, as it doesn't damage your joints because you're floating, makes it a lot easier to stay fit," says Reddecliffe.

Want more proof?

Dixie Choyce, at age 97, is still an active swimmer.

She might even inspire Torres.

"It isn't just exercise. It's what you put in your mind and what you put in your body," said Choyce. "And if she keeps it up she can be 97 and still doing some of these things she's doing now."

A look at a few of the major accomplishments over the past quarter-century by athletes who were past the age of 40:

--Dara Torres: At age 41, the swimmer wins two events at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, the 50- and 100-meter freestyles, setting an American record in the 50 free. She has opted not to compete in the 100 free at the Beijing Games.

--Eamonn Coghlan: In 1994, the 41-year-old Irish miler and former world champion at 5,000 meters becomes the first person over 40 to run a sub-4 minute mile. Coghlan clocks a 3:58.15 at a race in Cambridge, Mass.

--George Foreman: In 1994, at age 45, the boxer regains part of the heavyweight title he lost to Muhammad Ali 20 years earlier, stopping Michael Moorer with a two-punch combination in the 10th round. Foreman captures the IBF and WBA championships to become the oldest champion in any weight class.

--Jack Nicklaus: In 1986, the golfing great wins his last major championship, the Masters, at age 46.

--Nolan Ryan: In 1990, at age 43, threw the sixth no-hitter of his career, blanking Oakland 5-0 while pitching for the Texas Rangers. The next season, at age 44, Ryan tossed his seventh no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays.

--Darrell Green: Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February in his first year of eligibility, the Washington Redskins cornerback was 42 when he retired after the 2002 season. He had at least one interception in 19 consecutive seasons.

--Martina Navratilova: A month before her 50th birthday, in 2006, the tennis champion finished her career by winning her 59th Grand Slam title, teaming with Bob Bryan to take the mixed doubles championship at the U.S. Open.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.