Anthony Ervin Biography: Age, Net Worth, Parents, Olympic, Height, Wiki, Siblings, Spouse, Awards, Children
Anthony Lee Ervin, professionally known as Anthony Ervin, is a retired American competitive swimmer and author who became one of his generation’s most accomplished sprint swimmers.
He gained worldwide recognition after winning the 50-meter freestyle at the 2000 Sydney Olympics at 19, sharing the gold medal with American teammate Gary Hall Jr.
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His career later took an unusual turn when he retired from competitive swimming, sold his Olympic gold medal to raise money for tsunami relief, and spent several years away from elite competition.
He returned to the sport more than a decade later. He won another Olympic gold medal in the same event at the 2016 Rio Games at the age of 35, making his career one of the most unusual comeback stories in Olympic swimming.
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| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Real Name: | Anthony Lee Ervin |
| Stage Name: | Anthony Ervin |
| Born: | May 26, 1981 (age 45 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Burbank, California, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | African-American, Ashkenazi Jewish |
| Height: | 1.91 m |
| Religion: | Zen Buddhism |
| Parents: | Jack Ervin, Sherry Ervin |
| Siblings: | Jackie Ervin, Derek Ervin |
| Spouse: | Marni Ervin |
| Relationship: | Married |
| Children: | Theia Ervin |
| Occupation: | Retired Professional Swimmer, Author |
| Net Worth: | $1.5 million |
Early Life and Education
Anthony Lee Ervin was born on May 26, 1981, in Burbank, California, and is now 45 years old. He grew up in Valencia, California, with his parents, Jack Ervin and Sherry Ervin, and his siblings, Jackie and Derek.
His father is African-American, while his mother has Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, giving Ervin a mixed cultural background that became an important part of his personal identity.
Ervin’s parents introduced him to swimming because they wanted him and his siblings to learn the skill for safety. What began as a practical childhood activity eventually became his competitive passion.
He joined the Canyons Aquatic Club and developed into an elite young swimmer while also dealing with Tourette syndrome and the motor tics associated with the condition.
Outside the pool, he developed an interest in literature and later became known for his unconventional interests and lifestyle.
He attended William S. Hart High School in Santa Clarita, California, graduating in 1999. He then received an athletic scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley, where he competed for the California Golden Bears. At Berkeley, he studied English and won several NCAA titles before earning his bachelor’s degree in 2010.
His university years helped establish him as one of the strongest American sprint swimmers of his generation.
Personal Life
Anthony Ervin is married to Marni Ervin, and the couple have a daughter named Theia. He became a father in 2016, shortly before competing at the Rio Olympic Games.
At the time, Ervin revealed after his 50-meter freestyle victory that his daughter had been born only six weeks earlier and that he had not yet met her because of the circumstances surrounding his Olympic preparation and her birth. Before settling into family life, Ervin went through a difficult period after leaving competitive swimming.
Following his retirement in 2003, he spent years away from professional competition, travelled, played music, and dealt with substance abuse and other personal struggles.
He has since spoken openly about those experiences and the process of rebuilding his life before eventually returning to elite swimming.
Ervin also developed a strong connection with Zen Buddhism, which became part of his personal journey as he searched for greater stability and direction.
His experiences away from swimming later became an important part of his memoir and his work with young athletes.
Career
Anthony Ervin made his international breakthrough at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games at 19.
He won the gold medal in the 50-meter freestyle after tying Gary Hall Jr., resulting in a rare tie for first place. Ervin also earned a silver medal as part of the United States 4×100-meter freestyle relay team.
His success continued at the 2001 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, where he won gold in both the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle events.
He also enjoyed a highly successful collegiate career at the University of California, Berkeley, winning seven NCAA national titles and establishing himself as one of the leading sprint specialists in American swimming.
Despite reaching the top of the sport at a young age, Ervin abruptly retired from competitive swimming in 2003 when he was only 22.
During his time away from the sport, he travelled, played guitar in bands, worked with children, and dealt with substance abuse.
He also made headlines by auctioning his 2000 Olympic gold medal on eBay and donating the proceeds to relief efforts after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Ervin began his competitive comeback in 2011 and qualified for the 2012 London Olympics. He finished fifth in the 50-meter freestyle, showing that he could still compete at the highest level after years away from the sport.
His greatest comeback achievement came at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. At 35, Ervin won the 50-meter freestyle gold medal, 16 years after his first Olympic victory in the same event.
He also helped the United States win gold in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay. His individual victory made him, at the time, the oldest Olympic swimming champion in an individual event.
After stepping away from elite competition, Ervin continued contributing to swimming through youth clinics, community programs, speaking engagements, and athlete advocacy.
He has also worked with water-safety organisations and remained active in discussions about athletes’ rights and welfare.
Awards
- Olympic Gold Medal – 50-Meter Freestyle, Sydney (2000)
- Olympic Silver Medal – 4×100-Meter Freestyle Relay, Sydney (2000)
- World Championship Gold Medal – 50-Meter Freestyle, Fukuoka (2001)
- World Championship Gold Medal – 100-Meter Freestyle, Fukuoka (2001)
- Olympic Gold Medal – 50-Meter Freestyle, Rio de Janeiro (2016)
- Olympic Gold Medal – 4×100-Meter Freestyle Relay, Rio de Janeiro (2016)
- World Short Course Championship Gold Medal – 4×100-Meter Freestyle Relay, Istanbul (2012)
- Pac-10 Swimmer of the Year (2002)
- International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Inductee (2017)
- International Swimming Hall of Fame Inductee (2025)
Net Worth
Anthony Ervin has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million.
His wealth has been built through his long career as an elite swimmer, sponsorship and endorsement opportunities, speaking engagements, book royalties, swimming clinics, and other professional activities connected to his Olympic career and sports advocacy work.
Social Media
- Instagram: @anthonyervin
- X: @AnthonyErvin
Books
- Chasing Water: Elegy of an Olympian (2016)
What People Ask
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