Lebanon Swim Club father Walter Peycha has been volunteering for swim events at the national level for years. But at the nationals held in Indianapolis earlier this month, Peycha had a very memorable assignment — taking care of Olympic swimmer Dara Torres.
Peycha was on the local organizing committee for the event, which handles all the volunteers. He was also on deck control, meaning he ran security. And, on top of that, a few of the volunteers were assigned athletes, and Peycha got five-time Olympic swimmer Dara Torres.
“She has done a lot for the sport,” Peycha said. “It was very cool to be able to provide that type of support.”
Peycha did everything he could for Torres. He arranged for Torres’ 2-year-old daughter to be with her when Torres won a gold medal, breaking an American record. Technically no family members were allowed on deck during an awards ceremony. He tried to not get in the way or push anything on her, he said.
When Torres prepared for a race, Peycha said she had people “smashing” her and twisting her like a pretzel. He had to leave the room.
“It worked for her,” he said, “but it wasn't working for me.”
Peycha had done a few things to help Michael Phelps’ volunteer, and said the differences between Phelps and Torres are like “night and day.”
“There’s a different focus, and a difference in maturity, definitely,” Peycha said. “But he’s at the pinnacle looking down, thinking ‘Where else can I go?’ And she’s looking up thinking, ‘What’s next?’ ”
Torres, Peycha said, is a swimmer well beyond her prime, who took time off to have a child. But she is still setting national records, and even coming close to breaking world records.
“Everyone is focused on her success,” Peycha said of Torres’ mother, stepfather, daughter and nieces, who were all at the meets. “They provide her some good grounding.”
Torres’ nieces even made Peycha cry one night. One of them told Peycha that she would never forget him.
“The next thing I know, I feel my leg getting squeezed by the older one. Then the younger one. I was getting a big hug.” Peycha said. “And working 15 or 16 hours a day, that catches you off guard. I started squirting tears. It was a very neat moment.”
Lebanon Athletic Director Phil Levine also helped out at the meets, Peycha said. Levine has many connections to swimming, as he coached a swimmer who was beat by Phelps in the 2000 Olympics. Levine was also able to reconnect with an old swim coach there, Peycha said.
As for Peycha, he said he’s going to start working on becoming certified to officiate swim meets — just in case the 2016 Olympics come to Chicago. And if that’s the case, he hopes the FINA Aquatic World Championships, which precede the Olympics, might be in Indianapolis. And maybe Peycha’s new friend, Torres, will be there.
“She’s a good example, because it’s important for everyone to see that swimming isn’t just about swimming,” Peycha said. “Other things are important, like family. Swimming is a choice you make, a lifestyle.”
Editor’s note: For more information about Torres, visit www.daratorres.com.
