In The Press

The 50 Greatest Swimming Moments in US Olympic History

In 2000, 19-year-old Anthony Ervin was dubbed the first-ever swimmer "of African-American descent" to make a U.S. Olympic swimming team.

Later that year, when he tied teammate Gary Hall Jr. for first place in the 50-meter freestyle, he became the first swimmer "of African-American descent" to win an Olympic medal.

Ervin—the son of a Jewish mother and father who is white, black and Native American—was never comfortable with the curiously ambiguous label or its barrier-breaking implications.

Ervin told the Santa Clarita Valley Signal in 2009: Read more about The 50 Greatest Swimming Moments in US Olympic History

Anthony Ervin: Making Up For Lost Time

OMAHA, Nebraska, June 26. IF the script had been rewritten, maybe we could be here talking about one of the greatest sprinters in history. Maybe his name would be mentioned in the same breath as Alex Popov or Pieter van den Hoogenband. Instead, when Anthony Ervin's name is raised, the consensus thought goes something like this: He could have achieved so much more. Read more about Anthony Ervin: Making Up For Lost Time

Plenty of compelling stories beyond Phelps, Lochte

One of the most intriguing figures at the trials is Anthony Ervin, who won a gold medal in the 50-meter freestyle at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, then mysteriously walked away from the sport before the next games in Athens. He sold off his gold medal to raise money for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami, lost the relay silver he won in Australia, and generally just roamed around the country, working odd jobs, finishing college and searching for a deeper meaning to life. Read more about Plenty of compelling stories beyond Phelps, Lochte

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