2 minute read
Keynote Speaker: Rowdy Gaines
I Didn’t Give Up!
MY NAME IS AMBROSE “ROWDY” GAINES,
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IV. I was blessed to win three Olympic gold medals in swimming at the 1984 Olympics. My wife Judy and I live in Port Charlotte, FL. We have four children and five grandchildren.
As a youth, growing up in Florida, I was cut from sports teams such as football, basketball, golf, baseball and tennis. I couldn’t find my niche, but I knew there was something waiting for me. I didn’t give up. When you get cut often enough from sports you lose confidence. I ultimately tried out for the high school swim team at age 17 and didn’t get cut. When I hit the water, I knew I had found my passion.
Throughout the 1980s, I was the fastest swimmer on the planet.
The Olympic Boycott of 1980 came during the peak of my career, when I set world records in the 100M and 200M freestyles and I was voted World Swimmer of the Year. I was expected to win five Olympic gold medals in Moscow, but was not able to realize that goal. After a brief retirement, the allure of competing proved too strong, and I returned to the pool. At the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, I won the 100M freestyle and the 4x100M freestyle and medley relays. During my career I broke a total of 14 World Records.
I have also been inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame and International Swimming Hall of Fame and I am so fortunate to work with many charitable organizations including Swim Across America benefitting research for cancer and Special Olympics.
Today, I am Vice President of Partnerships and Development of the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance where I run our charitable initiative Step Into Swim working on trying to give every child a chance to learn how to swim, a lifesaving gift.
I am so excited to share my experiences at The Southern Association Annual Conference. I know the work ethic and principles of excellence are relatable in many ways. I look forward to meeting and learning from all of you as much as possible, and to say that you should never give up on your dreams.
Vice President, Partnerships and Development Pool and Hot Tub Alliance Olympic Gold Medalist
