UCONN HEALTH WATERBURY HOSPITAL TO HOST 12-TIME OLYMPIC MEDALIST
UConn Health Waterbury Hospital and the Greater Waterbury YMCA will welcome 12-time Olympic medalist Dara Torres for The Comeback: An Inspiring Evening with Dara Torres on Thursday, November 5, 2026, from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center, Connecticut State Community College – Naugatuck Valley. Reservations are required.
Torres is a five-time Olympian and former world record holder. Over her career, she staged three comebacks, each time returning older, facing younger competitors and tougher standards, and learning that what worked before would not necessarily work again. She had to adapt, train differently and believe her best days might still be ahead.
Torres will share the lessons behind her journey and what her experience can teach audiences about resilience, reinvention, leadership and the determination to come back stronger. She will address questions such as how to adapt when the old way is no longer enough, how to compete when the standard has risen, and how to convince yourself and others that the best may still be ahead.
Evening Schedule
- 4:30–5:30 p.m. | Welcome Reception:
- 5:30–7:00 p.m. | The Comeback with Dara Torres:
- 7:00–8:00 p.m. | Desserts & Conversation:
Tickets and Support
Suggested donation for admission is $20 with proceeds benefiting CT State Naugatuck Valley students and the Greater Waterbury YMCA.
Reserve your seat at bit.ly/dtcomeback
About Dara Torres
Dara Torres is a 12-time Olympic medalist, five-time Olympian and former world record holder in competitive swimming. Read more here: https://www.daratorres.com/
About UConn Health Waterbury Hospital
UConn Health Waterbury Hospital is a long-standing community hospital serving Waterbury and 11 surrounding communities in Western Connecticut. As the founding member of the UConn Health Community Network, it builds on more than a century of service while connecting local care to the expertise and support of Connecticut’s only public academic medical center.
UConn Health Waterbury Hospital provides a wide range of services, including primary care, emergency and acute care, specialty services, and home-based care, and remains committed to keeping care close to home for the communities it serves.
About the Waterbury YMCA
For nearly 170 years, the Y has been a trusted community anchor, evolving to meet the changing needs of Waterbury and beyond. The Y remain committed to building a more inclusive, equitable, and connected future—guided by our core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
About CT State Naugatuck Valley and the NVCC Foundation
CT State Naugatuck Valley provides accessible education and pathways to opportunity for students throughout Greater Waterbury. The NVCC Foundation strengthens that mission by funding scholarships, emergency assistance, and student support programs that help remove financial barriers and keep students on the path to success. Together, the College and Foundation help students achieve their goals and build stronger futures for themselves, their families, and our community.
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