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|
| Anthony
ERVIN |
| Sport |
Swimming |
| NOC |
United States
|
| Gender | Men |
| Born | 26 May 1981
in Valencia, CA, USA |
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Further Personal Information |
Higher education |
Cultural Studies, Education, Sport Studies - University of California: Berkeley, CA, USA |
General Interest |
Other information |
TOURETTES ADVANTAGE
He believes growing up with Tourettes syndrome has been a benefit during his sporting career, especially when dealing with nerves on the starting blocks. "When I was with those seven other guys in an Olympic final and they're all freaking out and thinking about how they're being viewed and gazed upon by all these people back in their countries - all these people around the world - with me, I knew what these jitters were. I was very familiar with them. I didn't need to be thrust on such a big stage in order to feel that anxiety. It's something that I coped with daily as a youth, so I felt a little more comfortable in that environment. And I really think that gave me a particular kind of edge when competing on that kind of a stage." (usatoday.com, 06 Jun 2017)
RETIREMENT AND COMEBACK
He announced his retirement from swimming in 2003 at age 22. Having returned to the University of California, Berkeley, to finish his college degree and then started a master's degree in sport, culture and education, he got back into swimming after a college assignment in 2010/11. He was asked to write about his relationship to sport, which inspired him to return to the pool. "I wrote that paper about my life in sport and there was an immediate catharsis and desire to reclaim my body. After the final paper, I smoked my last cigarette and with no intention of being a competitor, turned all the energy to the pool." (livemint.com, 22 Nov 2017; anthonyervin.com, 09 Feb 2016; Cal Alumni Association, Summer 2012)
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
His autobiography, 'Chasing Water: Elegy of an Olympian' was published in April 2016 and won the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Buck Dawson Award. (anthonyervin.com, 22 May 2018; sports.vice.com, 28 Mar 2016)
FURTHER EDUCATION
In 2019 he began studying at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College in the United States of America. (swimswam.com, 16 Jan 2019)
OTHER ROLES
He has served as a member of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee's Athletes' Advisory Council. (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 16 Nov 2021) |
Sport Specific Information |
Why this sport? |
He displayed several behavioural problems as a child so his parents encouraged him to begin swimming in the hope that he would channel his energy in the water. |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
He began swimming before he reached age 12 months. His parents later enrolled him in a swimming club when he started kindergarten. |
Further Personal Information |
Occupation |
Author, Coach, Consultant, Public Speaker |
General Interest |
Nicknames |
Tony (usaswimming.org, 01 Jul 2012) |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Winning can be a terrible thing that happens to you. It can completely intoxicate you. It can derail you and you may distort your values and principles" (olympicchannel.com, 01 Oct 2018) |
Awards and honours |
In 2021 he was named among the 100 Greatest Male College Swimmers and Divers by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America [CSCAA]. (cscaa.org, 09 Nov 2021)
He won the 2016 Perseverance Award at USA Swimming's Golden Goggles Awards. (fina.org, 22 Nov 2016)
In 2001 he was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. (anthonyervin.com, 09 Feb 2016) |
Further Personal Information |
Languages |
English |
Family |
One daughter [2016] |
General Interest |
Milestones |
At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro he became the oldest swimmer to win the 50m freestyle at an Olympic Games when he claimed gold at age 35 years and 78 days. (SportsDeskOnline, 01 May 2020)
At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney he became the youngest swimmer to win the 50m freestyle at an Olympic Games when he claimed gold at age 19 years and 119 days. (SportsDeskOnline, 01 May 2020) |
Further Personal Information |
Residence |
Fort Mill, SC, USA |
Olympic Games |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 1 |
2016 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
50m Freestyle |
21.40 |
| 1 |
2016 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
|
| 5 |
2012 |
London, ENG |
50m Freestyle |
21.78 |
| 1 |
2000 |
Sydney, NSW, AUS |
50m Freestyle |
21.98 |
| 2 |
2000 |
Sydney, NSW, AUS |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
3:13.86 |
World Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| Semifinal |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
50m Freestyle |
22.02 |
| Heats |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
3:16.01 |
| 6 |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
50m Freestyle |
21.65 |
| 2 |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
3:11.42 |
| Heats |
2003 |
Barcelona, ESP |
50m Freestyle |
22.74 |
| 1 |
2001 |
Fukuoka, JPN |
50m Freestyle |
22.09 |
| 1 |
2001 |
Fukuoka, JPN |
100m Freestyle |
48.33 |
| 7 |
2001 |
Fukuoka, JPN |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
DSQ |
| 7 |
2001 |
Fukuoka, JPN |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
DSQ |
World Championships Short Course |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 3 |
2012 |
Istanbul, TUR |
50m Freestyle |
20.99 |
| 1 |
2012 |
Istanbul, TUR |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
3:06.40 |
| 1 |
2012 |
Istanbul, TUR |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
|
World Cup Short Course |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 6 |
2017 |
Hong Kong, CHN |
50m Freestyle |
22.24 |
| 3 |
2017 |
Tokyo, JPN |
4 x 50m Freestyle Relay |
1:31.92 |
| 2 |
2017 |
Tokyo, JPN |
4 x 50m Medley Relay |
1:39.83 |
| 6 |
2016 |
Hong Kong, CHN |
50m Freestyle |
21.62 |
| 5 |
2016 |
Tokyo, JPN |
50m Freestyle |
21.44 |
| |
2016 |
Tokyo, JPN |
4 x 50m Freestyle Relay |
DSQ |
| 16 |
2013 |
|
Overall |
|
| 2 |
2013 |
Beijing, CHN |
50m Freestyle |
21.07 |
| 6 |
2013 |
Beijing, CHN |
100m Freestyle |
47.48 |
| 4 |
2013 |
Beijing, CHN |
4 x 50m Freestyle Relay |
1:33.29 |
| 3 |
2013 |
Doha, QAT |
50m Freestyle |
21.23 |
| 2 |
2013 |
Doha, QAT |
100m Freestyle |
46.64 |
| 3 |
2013 |
Dubai, UAE |
50m Freestyle |
21.34 |
| 2 |
2013 |
Dubai, UAE |
100m Freestyle |
46.88 |
| 2 |
2013 |
Singapore, SGP |
100m Freestyle |
46.48 |
| 3 |
2013 |
Singapore, SGP |
50m Freestyle |
21.26 |
| 3 |
2013 |
Tokyo, JPN |
100m Freestyle |
46.93 |
| 2 |
2013 |
Tokyo, JPN |
50m Freestyle |
21.10 |
| 11 |
2012 |
|
Overall |
|
| 1 |
2012 |
Berlin, GER |
100m Freestyle |
46.71 |
| 1 |
2012 |
Berlin, GER |
50m Freestyle |
20.85 |
| 1 |
2012 |
Berlin, GER |
4 x 50m Freestyle Relay |
1:31.16 |
| 1 |
2012 |
Berlin, GER |
4 x 50m Medley Relay |
1:40.49 |
| 3 |
2012 |
Doha, QAT |
100m Freestyle |
47.17 |
| 1 |
2012 |
Doha, QAT |
50m Freestyle |
21.02 |
| 2 |
2012 |
Dubai, UAE |
100m Freestyle |
47.04 |
| 1 |
2012 |
Dubai, UAE |
50m Freestyle |
21.18 |
| 3 |
2012 |
Moscow, RUS |
100m Freestyle |
47.43 |
| 2 |
2012 |
Moscow, RUS |
50m Freestyle |
21.11 |
| 1 |
2012 |
Moscow, RUS |
4 x 50m Medley Relay |
1:40.87 |
| 4 |
2012 |
Stockholm, SWE |
100m Freestyle |
47.50 |
| 2 |
2012 |
Stockholm, SWE |
50m Freestyle |
20.99 |
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