Olympic gold medalist Anthony Ervin is changing training locations for the second time this season saying in a Facebook post on Monday that he will now be heading to SwimMAC Carolina to train under 2016 Women’s Olympic team Head Coach David Marsh in Charlotte.
“This swimming odyssey sweeps me away again, moving forward as I journey homeward. My sojourn in Los Angeles has been rewarding with family, good friends, good teammates, and good training. I’m going to miss coaching the college kids, of being able to watch them develop into graduates, but I firmly believe they will be fine.
For now to Charlotte to rest under my parents’ roof, hang with my little brother (and recently proud papa), and train with the coach of coaches, David Marsh, and his crew.”
Ervin had been a volunteer assistant with the USC collegiate program and was on deck for the team at the NCAA Championships after moving to join the professional training group in September of last year. Prior to that, he had been training at Cal with Dave Durden.
Of Ervin, SwimMAC CEO Marsh said “Tony has trained with us several times – he’s always welcome in the home area of his parents.”
Marsh also elaborated that Ervin hasn’t indicated that he would want to join Team Elite on a full-time basis.
Ervin was the 2000 Olympic co-gold medalist in the 50 meter freestyle, where in Sydney he tied with fellow American Gary Hall, Jr. In 2002, though, Ervin abruptly retired from the sport of swimming when he was just 22-years old, and disappeared from the swimming culture for almost a decade. A successful return saw him qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, where he was 5th in the final of the 50 free.
At last year’s World Championships, Ervin lost a swim-off to make a final in the 50 free, and then swam the slowest leg (49.69) on an ill-fated American 400 free relay that was 11th in prelims and stunningly missed the finals.
While Ervin yet hasn’t indicated he wants to join SwimMAC Carolina’s roster of professionals called Team Elite, that’s the group he will train with in Charlotte.
The formal squad includes freestyle sprinters and Olympic hopefuls Michael Chadwick, Jimmy Feigen, Cullen Jones, and Mark Weber of the United States, in addition to other Olympic hopefuls like Matthew Josa, Ryan Lochte, Tim Phillips (who’s a part-time sprinter), Tyler Clary, Roy Burch, and Mark Blazevski among its men’s ranks. Feigen was the leadoff leg on the same 400 free relay at the World Championships last year, and Jones is the defending Olympic silver medalist in the 50 free.
We have asked for confirmation of whether Ervin will be training at SwimMAC just through the Arena Pro Swim Series meet at Charlotte, or if he plans to remain there until the Olympic Trials at the end of June.
We are so glad you came to Charlotte and we could cheer for you and your success. On to Rio
It will be interesting to see if Ervin is going for the 50-100 double or focusing more on one than the other. As recently as 2013 he had elite speed in the 100 free (split 47.38 in prelims). Even if he manages a 48 low-mid in trials he stands a good chance of making top 6. The 50 is a pretty brutal field, but I’d never count Anthony out.
If I were him I’d be focusing on the 100. Seems to be an easier shot making top 6 and qualifying for the relay than it is beating either Dressel or Adrian
The situation for the 4×100 is quite interesting this time. US will take the top 6 right? And what if Locthe, Greevers and Phelps does not make the top 6? How will they make him swim? I find it unlikely that apart from these 3, the 3rd to 6th make any individual events (Talking about Schneider, Rooney) so they must be used on the relay.
And will most of “top dogs” trials done for the 4×100 we have this situation (2016 times only)
Australia: 47.04, 48.03, 48:32, 48.68 = 3:12.07
France: 47.97, 48.01, 48.10, 48.43 = 3:12.51
Russia: 48.09, 48.18, 48.41, 48.55 = 3:13.23
Brazil: 48.20, 48.30, 48.59, 48.80 = 3:13.89
China: 47.96, 48.47, 48.96, 49.17… Read more »
Wish swimMAC would put together a winter nationals style relay. That would be a pretty study sprint relay crew.
I’m praying that Marsh finds some magic in him and brings Ervin into contention for Rio qualifying, so if he does miss the team, I hope it’s because Dressel and others stepped up. Good luck Anthony.
Seriously?
its not april 1st… so my guess is yes seriously.
Looking to catch lightening in a bottle for the second 50 of a 100m free. Hope he catches it.
This is reminiscent of Kara Lynn Joyce’s late move in 2012 to SwimMAC. Hopefully it turns out well for Anthony too!
I thought the same thing and hope it serves him well.
I hope it works out for him, i’m a little worried its too close to trials to really make a difference.