"The Fastest Swimmer on Earth"

Throughout the 1980s, Rowdy Gaines was the fastest swimmer on the planet, and his many world records confirmed his place in swimming history. The Olympic Boycott of 1980 came during the peak of his career, when he set world records in the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyles. That year, Swimming World Magazine voted him World Swimmer of the Year and he was predicted to win five Olympic gold medals in Moscow. Following a brief retirement after the boycott, the allure of competition proved strong and he returned to the pool, where Rowdy the consummate technician resumed his attack on the record books. At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, he was not expected to medal but instead capped his phenomenal career with three gold medals and two world records. At those Olympic Games, no swimmer won more races than he did with his first place finishes in the 100-meter freestyle, the 4x100 meter freestyle and 4x100 medley relays.

In 1991, the swimming world was shocked to hear that Rowdy had contracted Guillain-Barre Syndrome, an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nerves. Partially paralyzed for over a month, Rowdy fought back and overcame the disorder with the love and support of family, the swimming community and knowledgeable medical professionals. As Rowdy says, "Swimming literally saved my life. My doctors explained that my significant lung capacity from swimming spared me from having to breathe with a respirator." One year later he went on to the World Masters Championships and won the glamorous 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle events in his age group. Fueled by Original Limu and Blu Frog Energy, Rowdy continues a daily regimen of swimming and training, and in the US Masters Nationals in May 2009. Rowdy broke three national records for his age group in freestyle events.