Swimming: Hardy wins 50m as Torres denied

OMAHA: Jessica Hardy won the 50m freestyle at the US Olympic swimming trials as Dara Torres was denied in her bid to make a sixth Olympic team. Torres finished fourth in the final behind Hardy, Kara Lynn Joyce and Christine Magnuson. In the only other event on the night, Andrew Gemmell won the 1500m freestyle with Connor Jaeger nabbing the second ticket to London. Torres, who was trying for just one event, said her swimming career was over. “This is really over,” said Torres. “That’s it. I’m going to enjoy the summer and cheer the US team on from afar.” Torres had already become the oldest woman swimmer to compete in the Games when she won three silver medals in Beijing at 41.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2012.