Why do people consider Dara Torres to be old?

Question

41 is not that old.

She still has many years.

My aunt is in her 50s and still feels youthful. There are women I know who are still swimming even in their early 60s.

Answer 1

She's considered old for Olympic swimming because the next oldest person on the relay team is in her twenties.  For Olympic athlete standards, she's relativley old, but she's swimming just as fast of the rest of them, if not faster--she just won a silver as the last leg in the 4x100 m IM.  

Answer 2

41 is deemed by many as old for Olympic competition.....Not that she is chronologically old.....The Olympics have always spotlighted youth.  I personally think its great that she can still compete at that level.

Answer 3

40 is considered old in sports.

Not many people can do as good after they hit 40.

heck Andy Merrill is 41 also he aught to make a Brak comeback.