Ambrose "Rowdy" Gaines IV is an American swimmer, Olympic gold medalist and member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
During one four-year period, Gaines held eleven World Records and had the United States not boycotted 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, he would have been a favorite to win multiple medals at the event. After graduating from Auburn in 1981, he stopped swimming for several months, thinking he had missed his opportunity to be an Olympic medalist, but was urged to resume swimming by his father. When Gaines qualified at the 1984 Olympic trials his times were not particularly impressive and he was not expected to place at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Rowdy, however, would win the 100m freestyle off a very good start and swim the anchor leg for both the US gold medal-winning 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley teams.
In August 1991, Gaines was temporarily paralyzed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. After a two-month hospitalization, he experienced a surprising full recovery attributed largely to his superb physical condition as a competitive swimmer. He eventually regained world-class times and, at the age of 35, became the oldest swimmer to qualify for the 1996 Summer Olympics. Ultimately, he chose not to compete in the games in Atlanta but rather began his career as a television commentator for NBC.

Name:
GAINES, Rowdy
Other names:
GAINES, Ambrose "Rowdy"
Born:
17 February 1959
Birthplace:
Winter Haven (United States)
Nationality:
United States

Olympic Games:
Gold: 3
World Championships:
Gold: 4 ('78, '82)
Silver: 3 ('78, '82)

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