We at HC love strong, female role models who aren’t afraid to go after their dreams, no matter what age they are. That’s why I was SO excited to be able to chat with Dara Torres, a five-time Olympic swimmer who has won 12 medals and is a total legend. Dara is living proof that age really is just a number—she became the oldest swimmer to compete in the Olympics when she swam in the 2008 Games in Beijing at age 41. And did we mention she took home three silver medals that year? Pretty amazing!
Aside from having an awesome swimming career, Dara is also an advocate for health. She recently teamed up with Beth Mattey, president-elect designee of the National Association of School Nurses, to launch Get in the Game, a national initiative powered by Voices of Meningitis to help educate and motivate parents to protect their teens against meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease is caused by a serious bacterial infection that includes meningitis, an infection of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and meningococcemia, a severe blood infection. Although it can be mistaken for the flu or a common virus, it’s important to watch out for meningococcal disease because it’s potentially fatal—it could kill an otherwise healthy person within 24 hours. The disease is most common in infants and people between 16 and 21 years old, which means that it’s definitely something collegiettes should be aware of!
Check out my interview with Dara and Beth below, where they discuss why it’s important to be aware of meningococcal disease and how the disease is related to sports, and Dara gives advice for collegiettes who want to go after their goals in college!
For more information, check out the Voices of Meningitis Facebook page!