'A story of resilience and perseverance': 'Rowdy' premieres Monday on SEC Network

'A story of resilience and perseverance': 'Rowdy' premieres Monday on SEC Network'A story of resilience and perseverance': 'Rowdy' premieres Monday on SEC Network

Rowdy Gaines went in cold.

"They showed me absolutely nothing before the premiere," said Gaines, an Auburn legend whose life will be chronicled Monday at 7 p.m. ET when the documentary "Rowdy" airs on the SEC Network.

At last month's Greenwich International Film Festival in Connecticut, Gaines told his wife, Jude, the tributes they were watching were usually reserved for someone's memorial service.

"I kind of whispered, 'This is so amazing. These people are saying such nice things. I really feel like I should be dead,'" said Gaines, who added he felt undeserving of the accolades, some of which left him in tears.

Directed by Hannah Storm, "Rowdy" tells the story of a water-loving boy from central Florida who came to Auburn to swim for coaches Eddie Reese and Richard Quick from 1977-1981, earning SEC Athlete of the Year honors as a senior.

Network broadcaster and filmmaker Hannah Storm directed "Rowdy." Storm is married to Dan Hicks, Gaines' Olympic broadcasting partner. Photo: Hannah Storm/Brainstormin' Productions

After his junior year at Auburn, Gaines was favored to win up to five gold medals in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, but the U.S. boycotted to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

"The biggest thing that I really liked about it was Hannah told the story of the boycott so well," said Gaines, noting that 360 athletes on the 1980 team did not compete in the 1976 or 1984 Olympics. "That was a testimony and a tribute to the amazing athletes who made the '80 team, and didn't make it in '84 like I did. For me, it's really kind of a cool thing to share with all of my 1980 team members. Not just swimming but everybody."

"Rowdy" is the 34th film in the SEC Storied series, which launched in September 2011. Storm believes the story's themes will resonate with viewers, regardless of their school or sports preferences.

"So many things happen in your life that are out of your control," Storm said. "This is a great example of that. The boycott was something much larger than him. It was out of his control. Getting Guillain-Barre [syndrome, an immune system disorder that causes temporary paralysis, in 1991] is something that was totally random and unexpected.

"Things are changing really rapidly in our world right now. A lot of people are having to do things like switch careers, or their circumstances are changing. Any time you can see a story of someone who admits that it was difficult but fought their way through it. You can put one foot in front of the other, or you can put one arm in front of the other and swim your way through it like he did."

Unsure how to proceed after graduating from Auburn, Rowdy rededicated himself to swimming after a stern pep talk from his father. Three years later, in 1984, Gaines won three gold medals at the Los Angeles Olympics.

"It's a story of resilience and perseverance," Storm said. "That's a universal theme that really touches a lot of people. You don't even have to be a swimming fan or know his story to be really inspired by it."

Storm seamlessly mixes vintage footage of Gaines' life before, during and after Auburn, beginning with his childhood and concluding with his role as a broadcaster and swimming ambassador.

"A lot of the video, I had not seen," Gaines said. "There's a lot of video of my races, I had no idea even existed, so it was very cool."

Interviews include Charles Barkley, David Housel and David Marsh, Auburn's former swim coach who was Gaines' college teammate, along with Gaines' parents.

"Really special to have his parents such a big part of the film," Storm said. "I thought they were critical to telling the story. That's such a great thing, because then you can show your kids and your grandkids, 'This is Dad's story.' How many people have that opportunity? I think if you're going to do it, it has to be really meaningful and valuable for the people you're making the film about," Storm said. "I've always believed that."


A frequent visitor to his alma mater, Gaines spoke to Auburn's swim team last fall, a scene featured in 'Rowdy.' Photo: Wade Rackley/Auburn Athletics

Gaines returned to his alma mater last fall to speak to Auburn's swim team, a moment featured prominently in the film.

"I think anybody who has a collegiate experience, especially a positive one, it becomes a life-changing experience," Gaines said. "That's exactly what it was for me. It literally changed the course of my life.

"From a family type atmosphere, it's very true. You go there and it's something that stays with you the rest of your life.

"When you go back to campus, when you're there, you build these relationships, it stays with you. It's hard to describe to people who haven't been through a similar experience. I was fortunate enough to have that great experience at Auburn.

"I can't think of anything negative in my time there. I mean, nothing. I can't think of one negative thing except the boycott. Every single memory I have is something that's positive."