June 3, 2012

SANTA CLARA, CALIF. -

Anthony Ervin, the former California standout who won the gold medal in the 50-meter freestyle at the 2000 Olympics, is back swimming among the world's elite after retiring from the sport in 2003, capturing the 50 free Saturday (June 2) at the Santa Clara International Invitational with a time of 22.35. Another former Golden Bear swimmer, Will Copeland (2005-08) was second in the 50 free with a mark of 22.74.

Ervin, who competed for Cal from 2000-03 and won an Olympic gold medal as a 19-year-old, is back as a 31-year-old and will be looking to earn a spot on the USA Olympic Team when he swims at the U.S. Olympic Trials, June 25-July 2 at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb. He was featured in Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle Click here for Ervin Feature.

On Friday, Ervin had placed second to Park Taehwan in the 100 free (49.95). Cal's Tom Shields, the 2012 NCAA Swimmer of the Year as a junior, placed third in the 100 fly (53.02). Shields, Ervin and Copeland all swim for California Aquatics and train at Cal's Spieker Aquatics Complex.