Olympic Hall of Fame swimmer to light BSSG torch

Billings Gazette - MT, USA - Gold medal-winning swimmer and U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame member Rowdy Gaines will be the special guest athlete of the 22nd annual Big Sky State Games in Billings.

The 48-year-old Gaines, who won three gold medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, will light the torch and address the athletes and spectators during BSSG opening ceremonies on Friday, July 20, at Wendy's Field at Daylis Stadium.

A 22-time NCAA All-American swimmer during his college career at Auburn, Gaines was the man to beat at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Favored to win five gold medals after being named the 1980 World Swimmer of the Year, Gaines appeared strong in what many called his "peak" year. Yet in the midst of the Cold War, the United States boycotted the 1980 Olympics, forcing Gaines to wait for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

During training for the 1984 Games, Gaines won numerous national and world titles and broke his own 200-meter freestyle world record.

He once again earned World Swimmer of the Year honors in 1984 and capped his four-year wait by winning three gold medals, setting two world records and one Olympic record in Los Angels.