BERLIN, Nov 14: The past and future of Olympic swimming go head to head at this weekend’s FINA World Cup event in Berlin when 1984 gold medallist Dara Torres takes on current world-record holder Britta Steffen.

Steffen, who turns 24 on Friday, is European champion and world record holder in the 100 metres freestyle and was not even yet a year old when Torres, 40, picked up the first of her four Olympic gold relay medals at the Los Angeles games.

Torres is hoping to become the oldest ever swimmer to compete at an Olympics in Beijing next year, where she will be 41, and would be the first swimmer to make five Olympic teams.

Torres will be up against Steffen and Sweden’s Olympic medallist Therese Alshammar in the 100 metres freestyle in Berlin during the two-day event.—AFP