Original Limu™ and TLC Team Up with... 08/19/06
Original Limu™ and TLC Team Up with 3-Time Olympic Gold Medalist
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Rowdy Gaines – World Renowned Olympic Athlete and Enthusiast for the Sport of Swimming – Endorses Original Limu™ and The Limu Company
Rowdy Gaine’s swimming career quickly advanced despite a late start at age 17. With a scholarship to Auburn University in Alabama, Rowdy earned the title “the fastest man in swimming in the early 1980’s.” In 1980, Rowdy was named “World Swimmer of the Year” and “SEC Athlete of the Year” in 1981 – surpassing that year’s Heisman Trophy Winner, Herschel Walker. Disappointment ensued when the United States boycotted the Olympics in 1980 where Rowdy was favored to win four gold medals. But in spite of his advanced age of 25, Rowdy became a sports legend by qualifying in the 1984 Olympics in three events and winning 3 gold medals; a Champion in every sense of the word.
Six years later, at the age of 31, Rowdy was diagnosed with Guillian-Bare syndrome, a neurological disorder that paralyzes the entire nervous system. Rowdy made a full recovery, in part due to his top physical condition. With characteristic perseverance he immediately jumped back in the water, training and even qualifying for the 1996 Olympics. Though he chose not to compete, he was widely admired for his strength and resilience.
Rowdy Gaines was inducted into the U.S. Olympics Hall of Fame on October 12, 2005, in addition to the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the Sports Hall of Fame in Florida and Alabama. Those honors are backed by his many achievements in the sport of swimming, including:
- 1984 OLYMPIC GAMES: Gold (100m freestyle, 4x100m medley relay, 4x100m freestyle relay)
- 11 WORLD RECORDS: 1-100m freestyle, 2-200m freestyle, 2-4x100m freestyle relay, 3-4x100m medley relay
- 1978 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Gold (4x100m freestyle relay, 4x200m freestyle relay), Silver (200m freestyle)
- 1982 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Gold (4x100m medley relay, 4x100m freestyle relay), Silver (100m, 200m freestyle)
- 1979 PAN AMERICAN GAMES: Gold (200m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x200m freestyle relay)
- 1983 PAN AMERICAN GAMES: Gold (100m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x100m medley relay, 4x200m freestyle relay), Bronze (200m freestyle)
- 17 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 9 Outdoor, 8 Indoor
- 8 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS: 50 yd, 2-100yd, 2-200yd freestyle; 400yd, 2-800yd freestyle relays
- 22 NCAA ALL-AMERICAN, 1978-1980, Auburn University
- WORLD MASTERS CHAMPION & 24-TIME WORLD RECORD HOLDER IN MASTERS SWIMMING
Rowdy’s spirit and love for swimming endures though his career shifted when he was invited to be a commentator on swimming for NBC at the 1996 Olympics. He continued in this role during the 2000 and 2004 Olympics and is booked for 2008. Rowdy also commentates for numerous swimming and sporting events on a regular basis. In addition, he is the Director of Outreach for the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
Rowdy is just as devoted to his wife, Judy, and four daughters, Emily, Madison, Savannah, and Isabella who have all supported him throughout his remarkable journey. "I hope I'm remembered for a lot more than just winning a gold medal. I hope I'm remembered as a good father, a good husband, a good friend, a good son, and a good person," Rowdy says.
With the same passion he has for swimming Rowdy now shares his love for Original Limu™ as TLC’s Official Spokesman! Already a huge fan of the product, Rowdy expressed his initial disbelief in how quickly he began to notice a positive difference in his energy level and overall sense of well being. Rowdy joins scores of Limulians around the world as a firm believer in the unique qualities of Original Limu™ and the amazing benefits this powerful nutrient evokes. For his role as Spokesman, Rowdy says, "This is not something that I just want to show up and say 'Hi' to everybody a couple times a year ... I want it to be a family - I want to be a part of the family."
The Limu Company is proud to be a DSA Member. For the DSA's Code of Ethics, please visit