United States 'most significant team to represent,' Olympic legend Dara Torres says

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Before Katie Ledecky was the talk of the United States Olympic Women’s Swim Team, Dara Torres was the swimmer breaking records and leading the headlines at the Games.

Torres was the first American Olympian to appear in five different Olympics. She is also tied for the most Olympic women’s swimming medals with 12. She had four gold, four silver and four bronze medals over the course of her Olympic career.

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Dara Torres looks at the clock after her Women's 50m freestyle preliminaries at the 2000 United States Olympic Swim Trials at the Indiana University Natatorium on Aug. 15, 2000 in Indianapolis. (AFP via Getty Images)

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Torres recalled what it meant to her to be able to wear the Stars and Stripes on a global stage.

"Those three letters U.S.A. are the most significant team to represent," the legendary swimmer said. "I’ve been on numerous swim teams and national teams and stuff, but when you have those three letters on your back, on your cap, it means something more than anything you could imagine. That you’re there representing your country and doing the best you can for your country. 

"It’s not easy to be on the Olympic team in swimming. You could be the world-record holder all year long, and you got the Olympic trials, and you have a cold, or you’re off that day and you don’t go unless you get first or second. It’s very nerve wrecking. So you know, when you make the Olympic team as part of the United States, that you’re the best of the best up there, and it’s just a very rewarding feeling."

From left to right, U.S. swimming team BJ Bedford,