As we near the end of the countdown, I am experiencing deja vous. Take today’s ‘first’ for example. Today’s first is the first black swimmer to make the US Swim Team. Can anybody answer?

I’ll give you a hint. I’ve featured him a couple times already. I’ve tried to unravel the mystery that is this swimmer. Another hint: he tied for gold? In 2000? And later sold his medal on ebay for tsunami relief?

That’s right. It’s Anthony Ervin. To recap his Olympic glory, he tied for gold in the 50 M free with Gary Hall Jr. He also got a silver in the 400 free relay at those 2000 games in Sydney.

Since then, he has quit swimming, taken up music, returned to swimming, and auctioned off his gold medal to help others.

What I can surmise from some of these crash and burn stories is that becoming an elite swimmer is grueling work; sometimes you don’t walk away from that training without repercussions. Why do you think some of these athletes have emotional meltdowns and others retire with grace?