. >>> at just 19 anthony ervin was one of the world's swimming greats, winning the gold in sydney. gave it up. he auctioned off his medal on ebay for $17,000 to help tsunami victims. he wanted to find a deeper meaning in life. fast forward a dozen years. u guessed it, he's back a changed man and eyeing olympic gold once again. here's george howell. >> reporter: u.s. olympic swimmer anthony ervin may stand out for the ttoos on his arms but it's the time he spent away from the sport that has people talking. just don't ask what he did. >> next question. >> reporter: as the first athlete with african-american heritage to ever compete on a u.s. olympic swim team, he won gold in the 50 meter freestyle in 2000. three years later, fed up with competing he quit the sport and began searching for more meaning in life. he has no regrets. >> i thought i had accomplished all my goals. and there was nothing that was holding me any longer to the sport. >> reporter: with his olympic career over ervin sold his gold medal for $17,000 to help with relief efforts after the 2004 tsunami that devastated

anthony ervin blazed the trail as the first u.s.n-american heritage at the 2000 games in sydney, where he won gold and silver. after retiring from swimming nine years ago, he made a remarkable comeback to qualify for the london games. despite the progress in the makeup of the u.s. swim team, though, ervin thinks it'll be a while before the sport gets so topic anymore."i mean, the race question is always going to be involved, one way or another. it might not be the same exact race question that it was 10 years ago, but there's always going to be a race question." 3 another warm day and possible thunderstorms this week. week.meteorologist steve fertig is back with a look at your 7-day forecast. forecast.and a reminder... we are still giving away 250 dollar giant giftcards... all this week.if you want to win one... just go to our facebook page.. facebook dot com slash foxbaltimore... become a fan and complete the entry form to be eligible to win.go to our website for complete contest ru. rules. you're release me, momigus! that's mom to