American veteran Anthony Ervin won surprise gold in the men’s 50m freestyle in Rio on Friday to become the oldest swimmer ever to win an Olympic title.
The 35-year-old, who has overcome personal demons on his return to the sport, stormed to victory in 21.40 seconds to repeat his success at the Sydney Olympics in the same event 16 years ago and reclaim the title of the world’s fastest swimmer.
Ervin edged France’s defending champion Florent Manaudou by just one-hundredth of a second, with fellow American Nathan Adrian taking his second bronze, after finishing third in the 100m.
Manaudou had looked in control until Ervin’s late flourish denied the Frenchman, the veteran American celebrating by clenching both fists and letting out a throaty roar to the delight of the Brazilian crowd.
Ervin sold the gold medal he shared after dead-heating with fellow American Gary Hall Jr at the 2000 Sydney Games to raise money to aid relief work after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
But the one-time rebel swimmer, who got fired from a tattoo parlour during eight years out of the sport between 2003 and 2011 and played the guitar in a band called Weapons of Mass Destruction, insisted he would hang on tight to his Rio gong.
“Well, I’m keeping it for now,” said Ervin, who battled drink and drug addiction and even attempted suicide after his Sydney success. “Who knows what the future holds.
“I didn’t imagine being on the 50 free podium before I was 19 either,” he added. “It’s surreal, kind of absurd.
“When I touched and turned around and saw the one next to my name I kind of smiled and laughed.”
At first, Ervin looked as stunned as Manaudou at the result.
“You don’t think about getting your hand on the wall first,” said the American after getting a victory hug from his younger brother Derek.
“You just think about trying to swim the race that you imagine you can do, the one that you’ve been practicing, the one that starts as a dream and it’s a plan.”
Manaudou hinted that he may retire after defeat.
“I came here to win but sport is also about losing,” said the world champion. “I don’t know if I will keep swimming, I need a break.”
Ervin was humble in victory.
“It just so happened that I got my hand on the wall,” he said. “One one-hundredth of flow and you know, you can’t control that. All I control is how I do things.”