Age is truly just a number for Anthony Ervin, one he chooses to ignore. More important is the number on the board when he touches the wall, especially when it’s “1.†In winning the 50m freestyle sprint at the Rio Olympics by .01 seconds, Ervin became the oldest swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal. It was 16 years ago he turned the same trick at the Sydney Games, the largest span between Olympic medals in history. It was a long road back after a seven-year hiatus from the sport.
