The limited shelf life of Olympic athletes collapsed in 1980 for Rowdy Gaines and about 280 other elite U.S. athletes when President Jimmy Carter announced America would boycott the Games in Moscow.

Instead of distinguishing his country on an international stage, the world's fastest swimmer found himself instead languishing in the lifeguard chair at his hometown pool.

Author Dainon Moody details a story of Gaines' resurrection during an earlier era when sponsorships eluded star swimmers. Rather than cashing checks for wearing...