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Friday, September 22
Hall, Ervin produce upset
Associated Press
SYDNEY, Australia -- Americans Gary Hall Jr. and Anthony
Ervin shared Olympic gold in the 50-meter freestyle Friday, tying
in 21.98 seconds.
|  | | Anthony Ervin and Gary Hall's dead-heat victory gave the United States 12 gold medals from swimming events. |
Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands took bronze in
22.03.
Alexander Popov of Russia was sixth in 22.24, failing to win an
unprecedented third consecutive Olympic title.
"I don't mind sharing the gold medal podium," Hall said. "It
couldn't have happened to a nicer guy, a guy I practice with all
the time. It was like another day of practice."
Hall, of Phoenix, and Ervin, of Valencia, Calif., are training
partners in Arizona. Ervin, who at 19 was the youngest swimmer in
the eight-man final, is the first swimmer of black heritage to make
a U.S. Olympic team.
The Americans shared a joyous hug and Ervin leaned over to tell
Hall, "It couldn't have ended up any better."
Hall, the silver medalist to Popov four years ago in Atlanta,
was actually faster at the U.S. trials in August, where his time of
21.76 set an American record and was the second-fastest in history.
Ervin also finished second to Hall at the trials with the
third-quickest time in history.
"The 50 was my place to shine," Ervin said. "Thankfully, I
did."
By tying for the gold, Hall avenged his third-place finish
behind Van den Hoogenband and Popov in the 100 freestyle Wednesday.
Hall's medal capped a troubled four years since Atlanta. He was
suspended for marijuana use by the sport's international governing
body, then diagnosed with diabetes. He requires several insulation
shots daily to keep his blood sugar levels in check.
"There's a million reasons why I shouldn't be here, like
diabetes," he said. "To come out on top is such a thrill."
The Americans prevented Van den Hoogenband from winning his
third gold medal of the games. The Dutchman already had won the 100
and 200 freestyles, and broke the world record in the 100 Tuesday.
He was trying to become the first swimmer to win the 50, 100 and
200 freestyles in the same Olympics.
Popov, the world's dominant sprinter since 1992, settled for a
silver in the 100 freestyle. He was the two-time defending champion
in the 50 and 100 freestyles.
"We had a tie for the gold medal in the Olympics," Ervin said.
"That makes us the best in the world in no uncertain terms."
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