A Second Sprint Gold In Pocket, Anthony Ervin Not Planning On Saying Goodbye

The guy once spent seven years away from the sport, disinterested during what might have been his peak-performance years. Now, he’s willing to look ahead four years ago, the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo on the radar. Anthony Ervin sure has traveled an interesting road during his career, and it’s a path not ready to hit a dead end.

By capturing the gold medal in the 50 freestyle in Rio, Ervin established records for most years between gold medals (16) and as the oldest male gold medalist (35). The sprint sensation, though, is not ruling out the possibility of extending those records, and with his speed at its high point, maybe Ervin indeed has a little more magic to spin.

“I’m going to try and make the Tokyo team, of course,” Ervin said. “Obviously, I like being in an environment where I can keep trying to swim to the best of my potential and I don’t think my age should limit me to that, and I don’t think fear of defeat should limit that either because I don’t think about winning or losing. It’s just about being the best I can be for me and those that supported me.”

When Ervin shared the gold medal at the 2000 Games in Sydney with training partner and countryman Gary Hall Jr., he stopped the clock at 21.98. Four Olympiads and a comeback later, Ervin was more than a second faster, touching the wall in 21.40. The effort was a tribute not only to Ervin’s pure talent, but to his mentality and belief that he could return to the top of his event.

For the record, here are a few of Ervin’s fellow gold medalists from Sydney: Pieter van den Hoogenband. Ian Thorpe. Tom Dolan. Inge de Bruijn. Yana Klochkova.

Away from the competitive scene from 2003-2010, Ervin seemed part of history. But as the London Games approached, Ervin embarked on a comeback that saw him finish fifth in the 50 free at the 30th Olympiad. He followed that performance by dedicating himself to another four years and, ultimately, prevailing in Rio.

Much can change in a quadrennial, so there is no guarantee that Ervin will be a factor at the next United States Olympic Trials. But if Ervin keeps forging ahead, why couldn’t his success continue? Why couldn’t he pull off a feat similar to what Dara Torres managed as a 41-year-old at the 2008 Games …

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