The poet Shauna Banning was inspired by Dara Torres efforts in 2000 - and through her poem "Olympic Trials" inspired Dara, and many others who experienced her unique way of capturing the energy of the Olympic journey, through words.

olympic trials
 
An enormous minute
waits for us
at the gates
of our grandest trial.
 
It is a moment
of truth, of bold
audacity and willingness
to bare ourselves before
the masses.
 
We are all summoned,
anxious and restless,
onto the heated block of
committed questions and
answered abilities.
 
In the eyes of the 'if',
adrenaline rushing
into ears; hearts bleeding
into vision,
 
we will ready ourselves
with heads bowed, listening
for our signal,
intent and expecting.
 
Before the finding
before the all
hold steadfast;
that moment,
 
into the
glory
of our fires.

shauna banning