Dara Torres' coach, Michael Lohberg, diagnosed with aplastic anemia

Friday July 25, 2008

Olympic swimmer Dara Torres is headed for Singapore and a USA Swimming training camp, before traveling to Beijing and the celebration of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Her coach, Michael Lohberg, though, won't be traveling with her. NBCOlympics.com reports that Lohberg, 58, said Thursday he has been diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a rare disorder in which the bone marrow stops making enough red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. According to the Web report, the 41-year-old Torres is heartbroken at the news. "I can't believe this is happening," said Torres, who with Lohberg's guidance won both the 50m and 100m sprints at the U.S. Olympic Trials. "I feel like this is our journey, Michael's and mine. He had faith in me to take me on and believe in me. I'm going to start crying again. I can't even describe in words how I'm feeling right now."

Photo: Nicole Haislett and Dara Torres of the USA celebrate after winning the gold for the womens 4x100m relay during the Barcelona Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Photo © Getty Images Sport