Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines will return as the analyst for the video stream of the upcoming Army-Navy swimming and diving meet. The longtime preeminent voice of swimming who previously served as the analyst for the 2015 meet in Annapolis will be on the Lejeune Hall pool deck on December 7 for this year’s dual between the men’s and women’s teams from the two service academies.
The 5 p.m. meet will be streamed live and for free on the Patriot League Network via NavySports.com.
Admission is free to attend the meet in the 1,000-seat facility on The Yard.
“I have covered swimming for television for 31 years,” said Gaines. “I have announced seven Olympic Games and will do my eighth in Tokyo in 2020. I have never had a bigger thrill or an immense honor than working the Army-Navy dual meet competition in Annapolis in 2015. I am equally excited to return to a magical place in Annapolis where these men and women are our past, present and future heroes. These amazing student-athletes from Navy and Army are all heroes. (Navy men’s head coach) Bill Roberts and (Navy women’s head coach) John Morrison are two of the finest coaches in the country and along with long-time Army coach Mickey Wender it should be a great day of racing. I look forward to seeing both squads in action on a day of remembrance, December 7.”
A native of Florida, Gaines attended Auburn where he won eight NCAA event titles and earned 22 All-America certificates. After qualifying for the boycotted 1980 U.S. Olympic Team, Gaines qualified for the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. He would set an Olympic record in winning the 100 freestyle final and earn two more Gold Medals as a member of victorious 400 freestyle and 400 medley relay teams.
The 1981 World Swimmer of the Year is a member of both the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Gaines has served as the swimming analyst as part of NBC’s Olympic broadcasts since the 1992 Games.
“We could not be more honored to have Rowdy Gaines return to Annapolis to call the Army-Navy swimming and diving meet,” said Roberts. “He brings an additional very high level of excitement to this amazing event.”
“With service members and civilians around the world watching this incredible rivalry online,” said Morrison, “having the swimming icon, Rowdy Gaines, announce this meet will raise the level of an already electric environment. We are thrilled to have Rowdy once again be a part of this historic meet.”
Teaming with Gaines for the video stream will be Navy play-by-play announcer Pete Medhurst.
“Rowdy Gaines is an extraordinary talent both in the pool and out for the sport of swimming,” said Medhurst. “During our broadcast two years ago, he made every competitor feel as if it was the Olympics and his genuine appreciation for the kids came through on the broadcast.”
The above press release courtesy of Navy Swimming and Diving
Rod Johnson will you be going to this meet?
Yes! Y’all should come down. Got to get there early. It’s starts at 5 pm and we will be there st 3 pm.
Play “this girl” and that’s all the Navy guys will need to get fired up! As seen at Purdue Invite via Announcer Andy Ross
Nice Rowdy Gaines!!! Enjoy the college dual meet again!
Looking forward to hearing a fair and unbiased commentary of the meet.
Yes me too!!! Just like the last time.
Rowdy is the best.
John O’Reilly Gina O’Reilly
John, you can listen to and watch the meet. It will be live streamed on Dec. 8th.
Thanks!
A young lady I coached in high school will be competing at the meet. Hope Rowdy gets to call her name out in an enthusiastic fashion. To CeCe!
Joel Dodds
Go Navy! Good luck.
Kaitlin Patterson please go to this dual meet for me! I’d die
Ahhh! That’s where I used to swim Masters!
Please, no screaming.
I like it when he screams
Good luck!
Awesome, I love Rowdy Gaines