41-year-old Dara Torres wins 100 free, headed to Beijing for her fifth Olympics

OMAHA, Neb. - Forty-one-year-old Dara Torres completed her improbable Olympic comeback, making the U.S. team for the fifth time by winning the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. Olympic trials.

Wearing goggles older than some of her competitors, Torres got off to a blazing start and guarded her lead on the furious return lap to win in 53.78 seconds. Cheering her on in the stands was her 2-year-old daughter, Tessa. Natalie Coughlin was second in 53.83 seconds.

Torres, who made her Olympic debut at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, has twice retired from competitive swimming. A nine-time medalist, she already was the first U.S. swimmer to make four Olympic teams — now, make it five.

(This version CORRECTS times to 53.78 instead of 54.78 and 53.83 instead of 54.83)