Rowdy Gaines

Rowdy Gaines

Gaines in 1983
Personal information
Full name	Ambrose Gaines IV
Nickname	"Rowdy"
National team	United States
Born	(1959-02-17) February 17, 1959 (age 65) Winter Haven, Florida, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	161 lb (73 kg)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle
College team	Auburn University
Medal record Representing the  United States Men's swimming Olympic Games 1984 Los Angeles 100 m freestyle 1984 Los Angeles 4×100 m freestyle 1984 Los Angeles 4×100 m medley World Championships (LC) 1978 Berlin 4×100 m freestyle 1978 Berlin 4×200 m freestyle 1982 Guayaquil 4×100 m freestyle 1982 Guayaquil 4×200 m freestyle 1982 Guayaquil 4×100 m medley 1978 Berlin 200 m freestyle 1982 Guayaquil 100 m freestyle 1982 Guayaquil 200 m freestyle Pan American Games 1979 San Juan 200 m freestyle 1979 San Juan 4×100 m freestyle 1979 San Juan 4×200 m freestyle 1983 Caracas 100 m freestyle 1983 Caracas 4×100 m freestyle 1983 Caracas 4×200 m freestyle 1983 Caracas 4×100 m medley 1983 Caracas 200 m freestyle

Ambrose "Rowdy" Gaines IV (born February 17, 1959) is an American former competitive swimmer, U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame member, three-time Olympic gold medalist, and member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. He is referred to as "The Voice of Swimming", has covered swimming at the Olympic Games since 1992 in Barcelona and is currently a swimming analyst for television network NBC.^[1][2]

Early life

Gaines was born in Winter Haven, Florida to Jettie Ann and Ambrose "Buddy" Gaines, who met there as water skiers at Cypress Gardens in the 1950s.^[3] Gaines tried several sports during his teenage years, but turned to swimming as a Winter Haven High School junior^[4] at age 17.^[5] He received a swimming scholarship to Auburn University. At Auburn, he became a five-time NCAA champion under the training of head coach Richard Quick.

Career

From 1978 to 1984, Gaines set 10 world records. At the time, he was the world record holder in the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyles. The 1980 boycott prevented Gaines from competing at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Gaines said the boycott came at a time when he considered himself at his peak, and that he believed he missed an opportunity for four gold medals.^[6]

Gaines qualified for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. He won gold in the 100-meter freestyle and two gold medals for relays, swimming the anchor legs for the U.S. team in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay and 4×100-meter medley relay.^[7]

Gaines said he experienced mental health issues after missing out on the 1980 Games and had "some real trouble post-Olympics, and...some big struggles, especially the year after."^[8]

Commentating

He began covering swimming for NBC at the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics. He also was the analyst at the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics, the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics, the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, the London 2012 Summer Olympics, the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics held in 2021, and the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.^[2][8] Gaines announced on Instagram that the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics will be his last, announcing his retirement to be a full time grandfather.

At the 2011 Short Course Masters Nationals, Gaines broke his national record in the 50–54 division 50 yard freestyle (21.36).^[9] On July 16, 2011, Gaines broke the 50–54 Age Group record in the long course 100m freestyle with a time of 54.6.^[10]

Gaines is the executive director of Rowdy’s Kidz, a wellness initiative developed and supported by The Limu Company that reaches out to children across the country.^[4]

Gaines and his wife, Judy, reside in Lake Mary, Florida, with their four daughters.^[4]

Awards

• International Swimming Hall of Fame^[11]
• U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
• Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
• Florida Sports Hall of Fame^[12]
• Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Year 1981
• 1982 McDonald's Spirit Award^[12]
• 2007 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award^[12]
• Golden Goggle Awards, Alumni of the Year: 2024^[13]

See also

• List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
• List of Auburn University people
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games
• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
• List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (men)
• World record progression 50 metres freestyle
• World record progression 100 metres freestyle
• World record progression 200 metres freestyle
• World record progression 4 × 100 metres freestyle relay
• World record progression 4 × 100 metres medley relay
• World record progression 4 × 200 metres freestyle relay

References

1. "Rowdy Gaines". www.teamusa.com. August 4, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
2. "Rowdy Gaines". NBC Sports Pressbox. Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
3. "Obituary of Jettie Ann Gaines | Steele's Family Funeral Services". steelesfamilyfuneralservices.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
4. "ROWDY GAINES". NBC Sports Group Press Box. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
5. "5 Questions with...Rowdy Gaines". RSN. July 18, 2012. Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
6. "Rowdy Gaines: The Importance of Swimming Regret-Free". YourSwimLog.com. October 23, 2018. Archived from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
7. Rowdy Gaines Archived November 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com
8. "Transcript: Summer Olympics 2021: Rowdy Gaines". The Washington Post. July 22, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
9. "Results". Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2011.. 2011 Spring National Championships. usms.org
10. Keith, Braden (July 16, 2011). "In Briefs: Rowdy Gaines Breaks Masters World Record in Japan | SwimmersCircle | Where Swimmers, Coaches and Fans Belong". SwimmersCircle. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011.
11. "Rowdy Gaines (USA)". ISHOF.org. International Swimming Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
12. "Former Auburn Swimmers Denniston and Gaines Receive NCAA Awards". Auburn University Athletic Department. January 7, 2007. Archived from the original on August 25, 2008. Retrieved January 8, 2007.
13. "2024 Golden Goggle Awards- Live Recap". SwimSwam. November 23, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.

Bibliography

• Caraccioli, Jerry, & Tom Caraccioli, Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, New Chapter Press, Washington, D.C. (2009). ISBN 978-0-942257-54-0.
• De George, Matthew, Pooling Talent: Swimming's Greatest Teams, Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham, Maryland (2014). ISBN 978-1-4422-3701-8.

External links

• Rowdy Gaines at PMG Sports at the Wayback Machine (archived May 23, 2009)
• Gaines' Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary essay Archived July 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
• Rowdy Gaines at the Team USA Hall of Fame (archive June 24, 2023)
• Rowdy Gaines at Olympics.com
• Rowdy Gaines at Olympedia (archive)
• Rowdy Gaines on WISH-TV

Records
Preceded by Chris Cavanaugh	Men's 50-meter freestyle world record-holder (long course) April 10, 1980 – April 10, 1980	Succeeded by Bruce Stahl
Preceded by Jonty Skinner	Men's 100-meter freestyle world record-holder (long course) April 3, 1981 – August 6, 1985	Succeeded by Matt Biondi
Preceded by Sergey Kopliakov	Men's 200-meter freestyle world record-holder (long course) April 11, 1980 – June 21, 1983	Succeeded by Michael Gross
Awards
Preceded by None	Swimming World World Swimmer of the Year 1980	Succeeded by Alex Baumann