Wonder Women Swimmers - Dara Torres Makes it to 5th Olympics (GALLERY)

Dara Torres has backed up all the hype and buzz she received after a recent sizzling photoshoot by qualifying for her fifth Olympics. At the age of 41, Torres has defied logic and stereotypes in a sport dominated by athletes half her age.

“I was shocked when I touched the wall. I couldn’t see the scoreboard,” Torres said of her 24.25 seconds touch time. “With my age and everything, I said ‘what does that say?’ Then I heard the announcer and I could kind of see it blurry. They need to make those numbers a little bigger up there for people my age.”

This comeback would be even more grand were she to win gold next month in Beijing, more than 24 years since her first Olympic swimming gold in Los Angeles in 1984. She won that gold as part of the US 4x100m free relay. Over her career, Torres has accumulated nine Olympic medals so far.

However, Torres will not participate in the 100m free individual event in Beijing. She will be focusing on the one-lap sprint and relays.

As for her feelings about the iconic Michael Phelps, 23, considering her his “sort-of mom”, Torres said, “I’ll take that as a compliment that Phelps refers to me as the mom.”

Check out more images from Torres’ Maxim shoot and her recent interview as ABC News’ “Person of the Week”:

Aged Olympians - Dara Torres is 41 & Hot as Ever (VIDEO)

Dara Torres is a 41-year-old Olympic hopeful trying to make the US team for the Beijing Olympics. The fact that she’s about two decades older than the average competitor doesn’t faze her. She’s been persisting… [More]