Rowdy Gaines Reveals 2028 Olympics Will Be His Last as NBC Sports Color Commentator
For generations, Rowdy Gaines has been the voice of swimming in the United States, the excitable analyst joining Dan Hicks in the NBC Sports broadcast booth for every Olympic Games going back to 1996 in Atlanta. Hicks and Gaines have called all the Olympic races for Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky and every other star for the past three decades.
Gaines has also been the color commentator for nearly every other national and international-level meet, including the World Championships, national championships, NCAA Championships, conference championship meets and Pro Swim Series meets.
But that run will be done after the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Following the conclusion of nine days of action in the pool at the Paris Games, Gaines revealed on social media this week that he will leave his roles after calling a ninth Games alongside Hicks four years from now. Gaines chose LA as his final Games because he will be returning to the city where he won three Olympic gold medals, including in the 100 freestyle, at the 1984 Games.
Perhaps the most memorable call the excitable Gaines offered the world came at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing during the men’s 400 freestyle relay. With American anchor Jason Lezak trailing France’s Alain Bernard, Gaines told the world, “I don’t think he can do it, Dan,” but when Lezak began closing the gap in the final 25 meters, Gaines screamed, “There’s no doubt that he’s tightening up!” That gave way to Hicks’ call of perhaps the greatest comeback in the sport’s history.
In recent Games, NBC Sports has set up a “Rowdy Cam” so fans can see Gaines’ enthusiasm during the races and his nerves as American swimmers battle for Olympic gold. Most recently, NBC revealed the “Rowdy Cam” footage of the mixed 400 medley relay Olympic final, when the U.S. team edged out China down the stretch.
- EVENT PAGE
- SCHEDULE
- VENUE
- STREAMING INFO
- DAY 1 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 1 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 2 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 2 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 3 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 3 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 4 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 4 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 5 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 5 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 6 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 6 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 7 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 7 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 8 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 8 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 9 FINALS RESULTS
I guess all good things must come an end. He turned me into a year round fan from someone who typically just parachuted in for the Olympics. His call of the Women’s 800 Meter in London 2012 is epic. It will be a very tough act to follow.