Dara Torres

We're fired up for all the Olympic trials. With the gymnastics teams decided (learn more about the five gymnasts headed to London here), we've been waiting on the outcome of two races, one at the track and the other at the pool.

Track and Field
Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh tied for third place in the 100-meter sprint last week. In an unprecedented situation, the USA Track & Field commission offered the runners two choices: have their Olympic fates settled by a coin toss or a runoff featuring the two sprinters. Felix and Tarmoh both opted for the race, which was to be televised this evening, but today Tarmoh pulled out of the race, giving up her spot on the US team, but she will act as the alternate should something happen to another runner. Jeneba will also take part in the 4x100 meter relay. It's interesting to note that both athletes train with the same coach, Bobby Kersee. Felix will be racing in the 200 meter sprint in London as well, having run her personal best on Saturday.

Swimming
The 45-year-old swimmer Dara Torres placed fourth in the 50-meter finals today. She missed making the Olympic team by .09 seconds. The veteran Olympian gave it her all, but three races in two days meant lack of recovery time, which ultimately affected her time. Torres left the pool deck arm in arm with her 6-year-old daughter.

Last Summer, swimmer Dara Torres came home from the Olympics with three silver medals. An astounding feat for any athlete, but especially impressive since Torres was 41 when she competed in Beijing, making her the oldest woman to ever swim in the history of the games, and she was competing in pain. Days after her return from China, Dara had shoulder surgery to help alleviate shoulder pain caused from degenerative arthritis.

Unfortunately her pain and surgeries did not end there — knee pain due to missing cartilage made simple acts like going up and down stairs impossible. Although she would like to compete in the 2012 games, Dara said she would also like to chase her young daughter without pain. These are the reasons she underwent a radical and cutting edge (pun intended) knee surgery.

For details on her experimental surgery, read more

Forget Couch to 5K, maybe it should be Delivery Room to Marathon. While many postpartum mamas complain of the toll their pregnancies took on their bodies, doctors claim that the experience may make them more powerful than they were before conceiving a child. Researchers from Michigan State University and John Moores University in Liverpool have found that increases in blood volume and hormones that occur during pregnancy can improve the body's muscle strength, allowing women to excel at athletic activities.

The recent successes of mother-athletes like tennis ace Kim Clijsters, swimmer Dara Torres, distance runner Paula Radcliffe and golfer Catriona Matthew have the researchers looking at the psychological side of birth and athletics. Professor Greg Whyte, from John Moores University, speculates that the birthing process increases women's pain threshold, making female athletes even stronger than before:

"Women re-evaluate where they can anchor pain and many psychologists believe that woman’s pain threshold is effectively reset so that when she resumes or takes up training again, nothing ever seems as uncomfortable."

Did you find yourself stronger after giving birth?

Swimmer Dara Torres is one woman who's inspired me to stay active and healthy for years to come. At 41, she won three silver medals swimming in Beijing, so she's living proof that you only get fitter with age. Here are some tips from a Self magazine exclusive interview with Dara Torres, to help you stay healthy as you age.

1. Set a fun fitness goal. Dara says, "Even if you don't quite believe in yourself yet, if you set a goal that's not too tough to reach, then meet it, that will motivate you to set another one and continue that cycle."
2. Triple your warmup time. Instead of the recommended five minutes of warming up, Dara does at least 15. She says it "helps prevent aches" and make her feel "as spry as she did when she was 17." Warming up gives your muscles a chance to ease into your workout, which will reduce your chance of sustaining an injury. The longer you warm up, the better.

There are five more tips, so keep reading