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RIO OLYMPICS 2016: Ervin grabs 50m freestyle gold to become the oldest Olympic champ! Sets eyes on Tokyo Games.   

AIMAN INAM

RIO DE JENARIO: US swimmer Anthony Ervin, who once – suffering from depression – tried to kill himself, has won the men’s 50m freestyle at the Olympic Aquatic Stadium on Friday.

Blasting to a time of 21.40 seconds, he defeated 2012 Olympic victor Florent Manaudou from France (21.41) and became the oldest ever Olympic swimming champion at the age of 35. American Nathan Adrian got the third position with 21.49 seconds.

The winner Ervin optimistically said: “This medal means to me, the recognition, the immense gratitude for all the people that have supported me through the highs and the lows, always there for me, let me lean on them and I hope they can always lean on me if they need it.”

Back in 2000 Sydney Olympics, the American, at the age of 19, got dual gold in the same event. Later on, he gave up the sport at the age of 23 and came back to the Olympics in 2012.

“When I touched the wall, I saw a 1. Kind of the absurdity, the surrealness of it all. I smiled and laughed. It just seems so unlikely,” he further added.

Besides, he has said earlier this year that if he became triumphant in Rio, he would try his luck by taking part in the upcoming Tokyo Games at the of 39.

2016 Rio Olympics - Swimming - Victory Ceremony - Men's 50m Freestyle Victory Ceremony - Olympic Aquatics Stadium - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 12/08/2016. Anthony Ervin (USA) of USA celebrates his gold win. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

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M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.