Anthony Ervin Gives Vivid Detail of This Stage of His Swim Career

2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

Reported by James Sutherland.

MEN’S 50 FREE PRELIMS

  • World Record: Cesar Cielo (BRA) – 20.91 (2009)
  • American Record: Caeleb Dressel – 21.04 (2019)
  • US Open Record: Cesar Cielo (BRA) – 21.14 (2009)
  • World Junior Record: Michael Andrew (USA) – 21.75 (2017)
  • 2016 Olympic Champion: Anthony Ervin (USA) – 21.40
  • 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Nathan Adrian – 21.51
  • Wave I Cut: 23.19
  • Wave II Cut: 22.71
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut: 22.01
  1. Caeleb Dressel (GSC), 21.29
  2. Michael Andrew (RPC), 21.72
  3. Nathan Adrian (CAL), 21.85
  4. Bowe Becker (SAND), 21.94
  5. Michael Chadwick (NCAC), 22.00
  6. Payton Sorenson (UN-AZ), 22.08
  7. Ryan Held (NYAC), 22.10
  8. Adam Chaney (FLOR) / Sid Farber (TDPS) / Justin Ress (WOLF), 22.15
  9. Brooks Curry (LSU), 22.22
  10. Zach Apple (MVN), 22.27
  11. David Curtiss (HACY), 22.34
  12. Dillon Downing (SA), 22.38
  13. August Lamb (UVA), 22.41
  14. Will Davis (FLOR), 22.43

Caeleb Dressel has really come into his own over the last few days in Omaha, firing off some incredible swims in consecutive sessions, and he kept things rolling in the heats of the men’s 50 free.

Narrowly missing a second swim was 18-year-old Jack Alexy, the new NAG record holder in the 100 free, who placed 17th in 22.47 to move into a tie for 12th in the 17-18 age group.

Defending Olympic champion Tony Ervin ended up finishing 23rd in 22.61, while fellow veteran Matt Grevers tied for 46th in 22.98.

In This Story

21
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

21 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Cate
2 years ago

“We are the oldest of the fastest, and the fastest of the oldest” Ervin, Jones, Lochte, Phelps, Adrian, Grevers…the golden age of swimming.

Sportinindc
2 years ago

He seems happy, healthy and at a good place in his life. Very glad to hear he will stay connected to water and swimming. He is still my favorite swimming icon.

DP Spellman
2 years ago

I feel lucky to be friends with Tony and to have done some swim clinics with him since 2013 in Iowa.
He was the most interesting male athlete & coach that I have met in my 30 plus years in the sport.
I’m going to take a little credit with convincing him to get involved with the dry side (governance) part of the sport……..and full credit for dragging him out to some USAS Convention karaoke 🎤 (we destroyed some Billy Idol and Depeche Mode).

Hats off to an amazing and unique racing career Tony! Lots of great memories over the years from Omaha.

Eric the Eel > Michael Phelps
2 years ago

The fastest 40-year old + club :
1) Nicholas Santos
2) Dara Torres
3) Tony Ervin

John
2 years ago

Just watched his interview. He is incredibly eloquent.

jd14
2 years ago

Ervin should go on Joe Rogan.

please & thank you
2 years ago

USA Swimming is so lucky to have him. What a great representative for the sport.

jim
2 years ago

If you get a chance, read his book. Chasing Water. It actually does a good job of describing what happens to you AFTER you find success in the sport…the hallow feeling of where it takes you, the easiness it is to take your foot off the gas towards chasing the next dream just like the one you just achieved, and the want and need to explore other directions in your life…for him, some of that was in a poor direction, and he owns that, but to win a gold at about 19 or 20 in the 50, sort of flounder around for 10-12 years, come back and win a gold again at 35 in Rio…and close or at 40 hit… Read more »

Xman
Reply to  jim
2 years ago

Sir that’s a family channel.
Amazon Prime or Netflix however 🙂

Azswummer
Reply to  jim
2 years ago

He indeed is one of the most intriguing swimmers out there. He’s owned his transgressions and his story is an extremely interesting read. Very intelligent individual who has chosen to see his identity way past that of being a swimmer. A true, true sprinter if there was ever one! Enjoyed watching him through the years.

Luigi
Reply to  jim
2 years ago

Best athlete’s biography I ever read, lacking all the edifying BS you read in books of this kind. Too bad it stops in 2012 – he should write an appendix!

Best sprinter ever IMHO.

It’s a pity he did not really get to test himself in the 100 free at his peak. The times he swam in relays, both in 2013 and 2016, were impressive.

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

Read More »