Swimming tips as good as gold

By @tampatrib.com
Published: April 25, 2009

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Imagine showing up for swim class and getting an Olympic champion to show you a few moves.

That's what happened at the New Tampa Family YMCA this week, when three-time American gold medal swimmer Rowdy Gaines hit the pool to share his take on the freestyle and other techniques.

The three-hour clinic was part of his Rowdy's Kidz program, which lets Gaines use his experience as a competitor to coach and challenge young swimmers to push themselves to new goals.

Gaines, a father of four living in Central Florida, didn't start competing until he was nearly out of high school. He swam in college for Auburn University, and throughout the 1980s was considered among the world's fastest swimmers. He won three gold medals in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Tribune Staff report