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Top Cat
philosopher chef
(66.56.49.188) on 7/3/2021 - 5:25 p.m. says: ( 33 views
, 10 likes
)
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"Rowdy Gaines. . . ."
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It's great to see Rowdy Gaines on the Olympic Swimming Trials. He's a class act.
At one time, Rowdy held 10 world records in swimming. He was one of America's greatest swimmers. In my opinion, he is the greatest one in Auburn history. If I'm not mistaken, Auburn offered him early and it was one of the few offers he received.
In 1980, there was no swimmer in the world like Rowdy. He was going to win a bunch of gold at the Moscow Olympics. But president Jimmy Carter made the decision to boycott the Games due to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. It had to be disappointing. He was so good, but would not get a chance only a few could achieve. He swam for Auburn that year, and then retired in early 1981.
That May, my younger brother had a class with him. It was film production, where you had to write, film and edit a super-8 film. The class was very informal, and on the last night, they all got together to drink grain-based products and watch the films. Several people were making derogatory comments about Carter, the Olympics and whatever trying, I guess, to get in good with Rowdy. Not once did he make a comment that agreed with them.
His retirement lasted six months and he came back. At the ancient age for a swimmer of 25, he made the team for the 1984 Games where he won three gold medals.
In the early 1990s, he was paralyzed with Guillain–Barré syndrome, but beat that and then qualified for the 1996 Olympic Trials at the age of 36. He chose, instead, to work on his broadcasting career.
Auburn has had some great athletes: Pat Sullivan, Terry Beasley, Tucker Frederickson, Charles Barkley, Bo Jackson, Frank Thomas, Cam Newton and many others. But rarely do people mention Ambrose "Rowdy" Gaines when discussing the greats.
They should. He might have been the best.
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