Dara Torres gave it her all in Monday night's U.S. swimming team trials. It was the last day of trials and two races were left to determine which swimmers would round up the team heading to London in this year's 2012 Olympics.
The 45-year-old participated in the 50m Freestyle and could not come from behind to qualify for London.
She posted a 24.82, which placed her only .09 of a second behind second place finisher, Kara Lynn Joyce. Torres' time was good for fourth place as Christine Magnuson finished third finishing in 24.78, just .05 seconds behind Joyce.
For Torres it would have been her 6th Olympic team. She has won 12 medals, which ties her for the most medals as a female Olympic swimmer with fellow AmericanJenny Thompson. Torres is also the only American to swim in five OIympics.
Torres began her Olympic career in 1984 at the age of 17. The California-born swimmer won her first gold medal in the games, which took place in Los Angeles that year.
Now, Dana Torres will step away from swimming.
Her daugher, 6-year-old, Tessa, hugged her mother after the race and looked highly disappointed. Torres believed that Tessa was probably mostly saddened because they will not be flying to London.
"I tried the best I could," said Torres after the trial was over.
She also said that the highlight of her career was the ability to stay in the game for as long as she did.
