Rowdy Gaines

{{Infobox swimmer

| name = Rowdy Gaines

| image = Rowdy Gaines 1983.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Gaines in 1983

| fullname = Ambrose Gaines IV

| nicknames = "Rowdy"

| national_team = {{USA}}

| strokes = Freestyle

| club =

| collegeteam = Auburn University

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|2|17|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Winter Haven, Florida, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = 6 ft 1 in

| weight = 161 lb

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}}}}

File:Olympic rings.svg

}}

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.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-04 |title=Rowdy Gaines |url=https://www.teamusa.com/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-members/rowdy-gaines |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=www.teamusa.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Rowdy Gaines |url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/rowdy-gaines-2 |access-date=2021-07-29 |website=NBC Sports Pressbox |language=en |archive-date=July 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729095556/https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/rowdy-gaines-2/ |url-status=live }}

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.{{Cite web|title=Obituary of Jettie Ann Gaines {{!}} Steele's Family Funeral Services|url=https://steelesfamilyfuneralservices.com/tribute/details/22332/Jettie-Gaines/obituary.html|access-date=2021-07-29|website=steelesfamilyfuneralservices.com|language=en-US|archive-date=July 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729094545/https://steelesfamilyfuneralservices.com/tribute/details/22332/Jettie-Gaines/obituary.html|url-status=live}} Gaines tried several sports during his teenage years, but turned to swimming as a Winter Haven High School junior at age 17.{{Cite web |date=July 18, 2012 |title=5 Questions with...Rowdy Gaines |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/5-questions-withrowdy-gaines |access-date=2021-07-29 |website=RSN |language=en |archive-date=July 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729094555/https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/5-questions-withrowdy-gaines |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite news |url=https://www.yourswimlog.com/rowdy-gaines-swim-regret-free/ |title=Rowdy Gaines: The Importance of Swimming Regret-Free |date=2018-10-23 |work=YourSwimLog.com |access-date=2018-10-30 |language=en-US |archive-date=October 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031054004/https://www.yourswimlog.com/rowdy-gaines-swim-regret-free/ |url-status=live }}

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.[https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ga/rowdy-gaines-1.html Rowdy Gaines] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107071016/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ga/rowdy-gaines-1.html |date=November 7, 2012 }}. sports-reference.com

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."{{Cite news |date=July 22, 2021 |title=Transcript: Summer Olympics 2021: Rowdy Gaines |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live/2021/07/22/transcript-summer-olympics-2021-rowdy-gaines/ |access-date=July 29, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

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. 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).{{cite web |url=http://www.usms.org/comp/scnats11/results/index.php?MeetID=20110428scnatsY&ag=7&s=M&f=m7 |title=Results |access-date=2011-05-02 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504164207/http://www.usms.org/comp/scnats11/results/index.php?MeetID=20110428scnatsY&ag=7&s=M&f=m7 |archive-date=May 4, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}. 2011 Spring National Championships. usms.org On July 16, 2011, Gaines broke the 50–54 Age Group record in the long course 100m freestyle with a time of 54.6.{{cite web |author=Keith, Braden |url=http://theswimmerscircle.com/blog/featured/in-briefs-rowdy-gaines-breaks-masters-world-record-in-japan/ |date=July 16, 2011 |title=In Briefs: Rowdy Gaines Breaks Masters World Record in Japan | SwimmersCircle | Where Swimmers, Coaches and Fans Belong |publisher=SwimmersCircle |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721214904/http://theswimmerscircle.com/blog/featured/in-briefs-rowdy-gaines-breaks-masters-world-record-in-japan/ |archive-date=July 21, 2011}}

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.{{Cite web |title=ROWDY GAINES |url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/rowdy-gaines |access-date=July 19, 2021 |website=NBC Sports Group Press Box |language=en |archive-date=July 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721193233/https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/rowdy-gaines/ |url-status=live }}

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

Awards

International Swimming Hall of Fame{{cite web |url=http://www.ishof.org/rowdy-gaines-(usa).html |title=Rowdy Gaines (USA) |website=ISHOF.org |publisher=International Swimming Hall of Fame |access-date=March 17, 2015 |archive-date=February 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214070717/http://www.ishof.org/rowdy-gaines-(usa).html |url-status=dead }}
U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
Florida Sports Hall of Fame{{cite web |url=http://auburntigers.cstv.com/sports/c-swim/spec-rel/010707aaa.html |title=Former Auburn Swimmers Denniston and Gaines Receive NCAA Awards |publisher=Auburn University Athletic Department |date=January 7, 2007 |access-date=January 8, 2007 |archive-date=August 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080825053928/http://auburntigers.cstv.com/sports/c-swim/spec-rel/010707aaa.html |url-status=dead }}
Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Year 1981
1982 McDonald's Spirit Award
2007 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award
Golden Goggle Awards, Alumni of the Year: 2024{{cite web|url=https://swimswam.com/2024-golden-goggle-awards-live-recap/| title=2024 Golden Goggle Awards- Live Recap|work=SwimSwam |date=November 23, 2024 |access-date=November 23, 2024}}

References

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, [https://books.google.com/books?id=dDH7AwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Geoff+Gaberino%22&pg=PA13 Pooling Talent: Swimming's Greatest Teams], Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham, Maryland (2014). {{ISBN|978-1-4422-3701-8}}.

External links

{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523102940/http://pmgsports.com/new/swimming_rowdy_gaines.html |date=May 23, 2009 |title=Rowdy Gaines at PMG Sports}}
[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/features/si50/states/alabama/essay/ Gaines' Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary essay] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716181657/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/features/si50/states/alabama/essay/ |date=July 16, 2012 }}
{{Team USA Hall of Fame|new_id=rowdy-gaines|old_id=Rowdy-Gaines|archive=20230624201620}}
{{Olympics.com profile}}
{{Olympedia}}
[https://www.wishtv.com/news/allindiana/olympian-rowdy-gaines-provides-swim-safety-tips/ Rowdy Gaines] on WISH-TV

{{succession box

| before = Chris Cavanaugh

| title = Men's 50-meter freestyle
world record-holder (long course)

| years = April 10, 1980 – April 10, 1980

| after = Bruce Stahl

}}

{{succession box

| before = Jonty Skinner

| title = Men's 100-meter freestyle
world record-holder (long course)

| years = April 3, 1981 – August 6, 1985

| after = Matt Biondi

}}