DEBATE: Do You Want This Olympian's Abs?

If you had $100,000 what would you spend it on? A fancy new car? Paying off your mortgage? Some flashy jewelry?

Or, perhaps, getting in shape with an awesome set of six-pack abs? Yep, that’s at least how much it costs Olympic swimmer Dara Torres, 41, for her washboard stomach. The muscular phenomenon has become quite the hot topic. She’s got a head, sprint and strength coach, two masseuses, two stretchers, a chiropractor and a nanny, all which equal up to a hefty price tag and a deadly six-pack.

The general opinion on Ms. Torres’s abs varies. Some admirers say they envy her ability to stay strong and healthy as she approaches middle age, and that the focus on her body is a necessary one given her Olympic accomplishments. Naysayers disapprove of Torres’s abs, claiming that her tummy looks “ugly,” “extreme” and “like a man.” Such critics also say that the swimmer’s physical accomplishments are not something the average woman should wish to achieve.

What do you think? Is Torres’s six-pack admirable, regardless of whether or not it exceeds the average woman’s standard? Or do you think her abs are unattractive, like many people claim? [New York Times]