Olympic swimmer models at NY fashion week

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-11 09:27

Olympic swimmer Dara Torres presents a creation by Charles Nolan during the Spring/Summer 2009 collection during New York Fashion Week September 7, 2008. [Agencies]

After winning three silver medals in Beijing, Olympic swimmer Dara Torres has mastered another daunting challenge: walking the runway at New York Fashion Week.

The 41-year-old modeled two looks for the Sunday afternoon presentation of Charles Nolan's spring collection at the designer's Chelsea studio.

Torres, a 12-time Olympic medalist, made her catwalk debut in a blue-and-white striped tank top and navy swim shorts while carrying her 2-year-old daughter, Tessa, who clung to her mother as people clapped and cameras snapped photos.

Torres' short haircut was styled in 1920-style waves, which enhanced the drama of her next look: a black jersey and silk taffeta wrap dress.

Backstage in pants and a T-shirt after the show, Torres recalled: "There was a girl (modeling) who said that she was really nervous and I said, `Swimming in the Olympics is much more nerve-wracking!'"

Torres said she did worry, however, that she might stumble on the runway like Carrie Bradshaw did in "Sex and the City."

"I'm not used to wearing heels," she explained. "I wear flats and flip-flops all the time."

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