Podium Potpourri: Catching Up with Olympic Champion and NBC Announcer Rowdy Gaines
Through our “Podium Potpourri” series, Swimming World has taken the time to get to know some of the biggest names in swimming. In this edition, we spoke with Olympic champion and world-renowned broadcaster Rowdy Gaines, who will be behind the microphone this week for the United States Nationals.
What was your first memory of winning a swim race?
I’m not sure I’ve ever been asked that, to tell you the truth. I’d say the very first memory of a race that brought me joy was the 100 and 200 free at the Polk County Championship, when I was a senior in high school. I didn’t start swimming until I was a junior in high school, so the first time I ever won anything was as a senior, and I’ll never forget the joy, like, “Wow, I won something.” I can still remember hugging my high school coach, my team giving me a pat on the back. It was really special. I didn’t have much confidence going into that, and it gave me the confidence to take off in my career.
What other sports did you play growing up? How did they help you when beginning swimming?
As a kid, during my era, youth sports were everything. So, I mean, all I did was go from Little League baseball, to football, to basketball, one sport after the next. I think it instilled a sense of competition and wanting to excel. It was also just a great social experiment, working with teammates, getting to know them, dealing with a coach, all things that would help in the long run.
Did you have a favorite pre-race ritual?
Yes, I had this superstition. I had to lay flat on my back and elevate my legs. I think I had read somewhere at the time. Your legs are fresher without the blood in them. So, I did that for like five minutes before every race.
Any favorite pre-race meals?
Nah, not really. We know a lot more now than we did 50 years ago. But I tried to get a lot of carbohydrates.
Did you have a favorite song/movie/TV show to watch or listen to before a meet?
Believe it or not, I was really addicted to mindless cartoons. I loved the Looney Tunes.
What about overall?
I loved Chariots of Fire, just a great movie. Also Rocky. That came out right when I was swimming.
Do you have a favorite pool?
My favorite pool was Indianapolis. Y’know, we don’t have a historic pool that goes back centuries, like baseball’s Wrigley (Field) or Fenway (Park). But Indy is amazing. It’s where I swam my fastest ever.
Any pools that stand out to you now, as a broadcaster?
I think the pool globally that really exemplifies excellence is Budapest (Duna Arena). The support that country, that city, gives to swimming is great, and it’s developed into a go-to place for World Aquatics. In the U.S, probably Indy and Greensboro. Greensboro really is a hotbed right now. Great city going all in by building a 50-meter pool. They’re doing a tremendous job.
Where do you keep your medals?
Originally, I gave one to my mom, one to my dad, and one to my coach. But with my mom and my coach passing away, I ended up keeping those two, and my dad ended up giving his back. So now we put one in a travel box, one I bring around with me, and one is in the U.S Olympic Hall of Fame.
What’s the purpose behind bringing the medal around with you?
It’s just always cool to let people see it. It’s cool to see their eyes get big (laughs). You see people, from kids to the congressmen and senators I showed when we were at the U.S capitol. They think it’s awesome. So, it’s a great experience.
What went through your mind on the podium at NCAAs? The Olympics? How did it differ?
They’re two very similar, but completely different feelings. The similarity is you’re doing it for a group of people, a team. In college, it was for my school, the alumni, my teammates, everybody who is a swimming fan. But for the Olympics, I was so proud to represent the country. It’s the greatest honor I’ve received over my career. I was just thinking about our first responders, our military, the real heroes. It’s similar in representing something, just in the Olympics, that “something” is so much bigger than you.
Do you have a favorite memory of someone else on the podium?
There’s so many, it’s hard to pick one. The greatest race to me is the 400 free relay in Beijing. That’s the greatest race I ever called. They made an hour and a half documentary on it for crying out loud. Talking about actually being on the podium, Katie Ledecky’s first race stood out in London. Jeff Rouse in ’96. Michael’s (Phelps) 100 fly (in 20008). Lily King in Rio. Even back in high school, the women’s 400 free relay in Montreal stood out. So yeah, just a lot of great memories.
If you were a superhero, who would you be?
I grew up on Superman, so I always dreamed of being able to fly as a kid. I would wrap a towel around my neck and just fly around the yard. Got to be Superman.