Dear Dara Torres,

Thank you.

While I realize Michael Phelps dominated the swimming headlines last week (and I can’t imagine you would begrudge him one minute of his coverage—what he did was extraordinary), you were the person in the pool who inspired me the most.

You’re probably tired of hearing that you are the oldest swimmer ever in Olympic history…but there’s no getting around that fact. You’re 41. In a culture that worships youth, you are a startling reminder that life doesn’t end at 35. Your lively personality, your grace under pressure, your perspective on what it means to compete (how many other swimmers would have asked the referees to hold up the heat because a fellow competitor had torn her swimsuit?), and your passion to go after something even though, at first glance, it probably looked ridiculous (a 41-year-old competitive swimmer!) personified the Olympic spirit.

I’ll never be an Olympic athlete (wouldn’t matter if I were 21, 41, or 101!), but I do have dreams and hopes and things I’d very much like to do still. And there’s no getting around the fact that every day I’m getting a little bit older. But now when I wonder if it’s too late for some of this, you come to mind, along with the words you shared in interview after interview (and always with a smile on your face), “Don’t let your age discourage you from pursuing your dreams.”

So, thank you, Dara Torres, for a great week. And congratulations on your silver medal. You are a beautiful reminder to all of us that it isn’t over until it’s over.