Mark SPITZ - Olympic Swimming | United States of America Mark SPITZ Olympic Games 1968 , 1972 Mark Spitz is one of the greatest swimmers of all time. He won seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Games. Prediction backfires American Mark Spitz had brashly predicted that he would win six gold medals at the 1968 Mexico City Games. Although he did take home two gold medals from the relays, he performed well below expectations in his individual races. He was third in the 100m freestyle, second in the 100m butterfly and last in the final of the 200m butterfly. Seven golds At the 1972 Munich Games, Spitz was determined to make up for his below-par performances four years earlier. He did not disappoint. Over a period of eight days, Mark Spitz entered seven events, won all seven and set a world record in every one. Long-lasting record Mark Spitz held the record for most gold medals won at a single Olympic Games for 36 years. It was finally broken by American phenomenon Michael Phelps who won eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Mark Spitz Bio, Stats, and Results | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com Medals: 9 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze (11 Total) Biography After five gold medals at the 1967 Pan American Games, great things were expected of Mark Spitz at the 1968 Olympics, but he surprisingly failed to win an individual event. Before the 1972 Olympics, however, Spitz became undoubtedly the world's greatest swimmer, and considered by many the greatest ever. In 1971 he became the first swimmer to win four individual AAU titles at one meet, setting three world records in the process. The next week, at a meet in East Germany, he won all four events again, this time breaking all four world records. The performance made him an overwhelming choice for the 1971 Sullivan Award. At the 1972 Olympics, Spitz set an Olympic record by winning seven gold medals, all of them in world-record time, the seven gold medals broken only in 2008 by [Michael Phelps]. Overall, he won 24 AAU championships, eight NCAA titles (while at Indiana University), and set 32 world records.

After the 1972 Olympics he capitalized on his fame through various commercial interests, and invested heavily in California real estate. He returned to competition in 1991 with the aim of making the Olympic team the following year but, as he was over 40 years of age, it was a forlorn hope and an unfortunate end to a career of unrivaled achievements. Results Mark Spitz | Olympics Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit Spitz was born in Modesto, California, the first of three children [3] of Arnold and Lenore (Smith) Spitz. His family is Jewish. [4] When he was two years old, Spitz's family moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where he swam at Waikiki Beach every day. "You should have seen that little boy dash into the ocean. He'd run like he was trying to commit suicide." Lenore Spitz told a reporter for Time (April 12, 1968). [3] At age six his family returned to Sacramento, California, and he began to compete at his local swim club.

At age nine, he was training at Arden Hills Swim Club in Sacramento with swimming coach Sherm Chavoor, who mentored seven Olympic medal winners including Spitz. Before he was 10, Spitz held 17 national age-group records, and one world record. At 14 his family moved to Santa Clara so Spitz could train with George F. Haines of the Santa Clara Swim Club. From 1964 to 1968 Mark trained with Haines at SCSC and Santa Clara High School. During his four years there, Mark held national high school records in every stroke and in every distance. It was a remarkable and unprecedented achievement. In 1966 at age 16 he won the 100 meter butterfly at the National AAU Championships, the first of his 24 AAU titles. The following year Mark set his first world record at a small California meet in the 400 meter freestyle with a time of 4:10.60, and emerged on the world swimming stage. [5] Swimming career Edit The 1965 Maccabiah Games was his first international competition.

At age 15 in Tel Aviv, Spitz, won four gold medals and was named the most outstanding athlete. [3] He returned to Israel in 1969 following the Mexico Olympics to again compete in the Maccabiah Games. This time he won six gold medals. [6] He was again named outstanding athlete of the Games. [7] In 1985 Spitz lit a torch to open the Maccabiah Games. [8] In 2005 he was a member of the U.S. delegation at the 17th Maccabiah Games. He spoke at the JCC Maccabiah Games Opening Ceremonies, which was held in Richmond, Virginia. The Weinstein JCC in Richmond was one of the Host JCC's for the 2005 games with over 1,000 teenagers participating in various sports, including swimming. Pan American Games In 1967 he won five gold medals at the Pan American Games, thereby setting a record that lasted until 2007 when Brazilian swimmer, Thiago Pereira, won six golds at the XV Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro.

1968 Olympics Edit Holder of ten world records already, Spitz predicted brashly he would win six golds at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. However, he won only two team golds: the 4 × 100 meter freestyle relay in 3:31:70, and the 4 × 200 meter freestyle relay in 7:52:33. In addition, Spitz finished second in the 100m butterfly in 00:56:40. In this event he was beaten by fellow American Doug Russell by a half second, despite holding the world record and having beaten Russell the previous ten times they had swum against each other that year. [9] Russell did briefly match Spitz's world record in late August 1967, holding the world record equally with Spitz for five days before Spitz regained it solely on October 2, 1967. As a result of being beaten by Russell, Spitz did not get to swim in the 4 × 100 meter medley relay, which gave Russell his second gold medal and the USA team another World Record swim.

College training Edit Disappointed in his 1968 Olympic performance, Spitz decided in January 1969 to swim for the Indiana University Hoosiers [2] to train with legendary coach, Doc Counsilman, [10] who was also his coach in Mexico City. He called choosing Indiana and Counsilman "the biggest decision of my life (and) the best." While at Indiana, Spitz won eight individual NCAA titles. In 1971 he won the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States. Spitz also set a number of world records during the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials held in Chicago's Portage Park in 1972. He was nicknamed "Mark the Shark" by his teammates. 1972 Olympics Edit At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich (West Germany), Spitz was back to maintain his bid for the six gold medals. He did even more, winning seven Olympic gold medals.

Further, Spitz set a new world record in each of the seven events (the 100 m freestyle [00:51:22], 200 m freestyle [01:52:78], 100 m butterfly [00:54:27], 200 m butterfly [02:00:70], 4 × 100 m freestyle relay [03:26:42], 4 x 200 m freestyle relay [07:35:78] and the 4 × 100 m medley relay [03:48:16]). Originally Spitz was reluctant to swim the 100m freestyle fearing a less than gold medal finish. Minutes before the race he confessed on the pool deck to ABC's Donna de Varona, "I know I say I don't want to swim before every event but this time I'm serious. If I swim six and win six, I'll be a hero. If I swim seven and win six, I'll be a failure." Spitz won by half a stroke in a world-record 51.22.

[11] Spitz is one of five Olympians to win nine or more career gold medals: Larisa Latynina , Paavo Nurmi and Carl Lewis also have nine;> only swimmer Michael Phelps has won more with 18. [12] Spitz's record of seven gold medals in a single Olympics was not surpassed until Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics . Retirement Edit Following the Munich Olympics, even though he was still only 22, Spitz retired from competition. In 1999 Spitz ranked #33 on ESPN SportsCentury 50 Greatest Athletes, the only aquatic athlete to make the list. Spitz briefly came out of retirement in 1992 to compete for a place on the U.S. Swimming Team at the Barcelona Games at the age of 41. He was two seconds slower than the requisite qualifying time at the Olympic trials. Hall of Fame Edit After his retirement from swimming at age 22, he was managed by the William Morris Agency, which tried to get him into show business while his name was still familiar due to his athletic success.

A poster featuring Spitz wearing his swimsuit and seven gold medals made him the hottest pin-up since Betty Grable. [21] In 1973–74, Spitz appeared on TV's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. On the TV drama Emergency!, he portrayed Pete Barlow, who accidentally shoots his wife (played by Spitz's wife, Suzy). He also appeared briefly on the The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast of then-Governor of California Ronald Reagan in September 1973. Spitz went to work for ABC Sports in 1976 and worked on many sports presentations, including coverage of the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. [22] In 1985 he appeared as a TV announcer in Challenge of a Lifetime. He continued as a broadcaster for some time, but within a few years, he was hardly seen as a public figure [21] except perhaps as a commentator for swimming events like the 2004 Summer Olympics . Instead Spitz focused on his real estate company in Beverly Hills and hobbies such as sailing.

[21] Critical praise Edit In 2006 he received critical praise for his narration of Freedom's Fury, a Hungarian documentary about the Olympic water polo team's famous Blood in the Water match against Russia during the Revolution of 1956—considered the most famous match in water polo history. The film was executive produced by Quentin Tarantino and Lucy Liu, and made its debut at the Tribeca Film Festival. Commercials Edit He appeared in an ad for the California Milk Advisory Board. One of his print advertisements featured the caption "I always drink it-is something I like to do. I want to be loved by the mothers." In 1974 he was in a number of Schick razors commercials. [23] In 1998 he appeared with Evel Knievel in a TV commercial for PlayStation. In 2004 he appeared in a TV commercial for Sprint PCS. [24] Then in November 2007, Spitz made a cameo appearance on Amanda Beard's first television commercial (for GoDaddy) featuring her own seven Olympic medals (won between 1996–2004). The ad was entitled "Shock".

[25] Also, in 2007 he appeared in the infomercial for the "Orbitrek Elite" fitness workout. [26] He appeared in a commercial for Lear Capital, a gold investment company. (at 8:13 and 15:42 on a video at dated February 12, 2011, but the commercial was edited out of the version labeled "Episode 1: Will Massive Amount [sic] Of Oil Be Discovered In Israel?") In 2012 Spitz appeared in a commercial for Ageless Male, a testosterone supplement. Personal life Edit When Spitz returned from the Olympics, he began dating Suzy Weiner, a UCLA theater student and part-time model, who also was the daughter of one of his father's business acquaintances. [21] [27] Less than a year after the Munich Olympics, they were married on May 6, 1973, [26] in a traditional Jewish service at the Beverly Hills Hotel. [23] They have two sons, Matthew (born October 1981) and Justin (born September 1991).

Justin currently is a sophomore at Stanford University, and is on the swim team. [22] [28] [29] Education Edit From 1964 to 1968 Spitz attended Santa Clara High School. After graduating he went on to Indiana University. [21] At Indiana University from 1968–72, he was a pre-dental student and member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. TIME magazine asked him if he wanted to return to dental school after the Olympics. "I always wanted to be a dentist from the time I was in high school, and I was accepted to dental school in the spring of 1972. I was planning to go, but after the Olympics there were other opportunities. I did some television and speaking engagements, and things just went from there." [30] Post-swimming career Edit In 1972, soon after his return to the US, Spitz landed several lucrative corporate endorsement contracts. He earned about $7 million in a two-year period. [31] However, as the memory of his feat receded, so did his endorsement and promotional deals. As his endorsements faded he started a successful real-estate company in Beverly Hills.

He bought a Ferrari and says he made more than $1 million. "A million dollars in 1972 would be equivalent to more than $10 million today," Spitz said. "I did very well, thank you very much." [32] "I would say I was a pioneer. There wasn't anyone who'd gone to the Olympics before me who capitalized the same way on opportunity. It depends on timing, it depends on hype, it depends on the economy, and most importantly, it depends on looks. I mean, I've never seen a magazine of uglies. That's our society. I'm not saying it's right. That's just the facts." [33] Per his official website, Spitz is self-employed as a corporate spokesperson and motivational speaker. However, Sports Yahoo! lists his occupation as a stock broker and motivational speaker. [34] According to a recent interview "Spitz became a stockbroker in 2002 and has since moved into private equity. He is now also dabbling in the "water business," as he calls it, and is in negotiations to build a water-bottling facility on aquifer-rich land that he and a business partner own.

[35] He has pursued various entrepreneurial projects with former NBA player Rick Barry. He travels the world delivering about 25 lectures a year. His biography, The Extraordinary Life of An Olympic Champion by Richard J. Foster was released in July 2008. [36] In July 2012 he endorsed Istanbul's bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics. [37] Hobbies His hobbies include sailing, skiing and collecting art. [38] He has been involved in blue water ocean racing (sailing) and in the summer of 1981 competed in his third Trans-Pac Yacht Race from Los Angeles to Hawaii, finishing third. [22] Iconic moustache during Olympics Edit In an era when other swimmers, male and female, were shaving body hair, he swam with a moustache. When asked why he initially grew one he stated "I grew the moustache because a coach in college said I couldn't grow one." [30] Spitz said he originally grew the moustache as a form of rebellion against the clean-cut look imposed on him in college. “It took a long time to grow,” he said.

[39] It took four months to grow, but Spitz was proud of it, he decided the moustache was a "good-luck piece." [40] Mark Spitz is quoted as saying, "When I went to the Olympics, I had every intention of shaving the moustache off, but I realized I was getting so many comments about it—and everybody was talking about it—that I decided to keep it. I had some fun with a Russian coach who asked me if my moustache slowed me down. I said, 'No, as a matter of fact, it deflects water away from my mouth, allows my rear end to rise and make me bullet-shaped in the water, and that's what had allowed me to swim so great.' He's translating as fast as he can for the other coaches, and the following year every Russian male swimmer had a moustache." [41] According to a Sports Illustrated article, on February 14, 1988, after talking about shaving off his moustache for a year, he finally did.

"He looked great with it, don't get me wrong," explained his wife Suzy, "but he looks so handsome without it." [42] When he was asked why he shaved it off he responded "well, one, I'm not swimming anymore; two, it started to turn gray; and three, my wife had never seen me, nor my family, without the moustache... I'm happy [without it]." [43] He also commented on his moustache in a live, in-studio interview with KCRA host Mike TeSelle on June 14, 2008, Spitz commented that he no longer maintains his iconic moustache because it had become "too gray." Health issues Edit After retirement, Spitz was diagnosed with acid reflux disease, a condition from which his physician thinks he suffered throughout his career. [44] "During my Olympic training, I attributed the symptoms [of acid reflux] to an overexposure to chlorine and eating too soon before and after swimming," says Spitz.

"It wasn't until the symptoms began to get in the way of my 1976 Olympic broadcasting career in Montreal, which was four years after retirement that I suspected something more serious must be happening." He has also reported having high cholesterol and other chronic health issues. [45] "People don't believe that I have high cholesterol, but it's a fact," said Spitz. "I take medication every day because my doctor told me that diet and exercise are not enough to keep my cholesterol down. He is a paid spokesperson for Medco, a pharmacy benefit management company." [46] Olympic controversies Edit In 1972, Spitz was accused of product placement during the medal ceremony. Following the 200-meter freestyle race Spitz arrived to obtain his gold medal barefoot and carrying his shoes. He put them down when the American national anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner" was played. After the anthem played, he picked up his shoes and waved to the crowd. The Soviets saw this as product placement. When questioned by the IOC, Spitz explained that the gesture was innocent, the shoes were old and he was not paid. The IOC cleared him of any wrongdoing.

[47] Issues with 2008 Summer Olympics Edit Spitz felt snubbed by not being asked to attend the 2008 Olympics to watch Michael Phelps attempt to break his seven gold medal record. In an article, he is quoted as saying, "I never got invited. You don't go to the Olympics just to say, I am going to go. Especially because of who I am....I am going to sit there and watch Michael Phelps break my record anonymously? That's almost demeaning to me. It is not almost—it is." [34] Spitz has stated that he has no hard feelings towards Phelps. He is, however, unhappy that he was not invited to the 2008 Summer Olympics. As a result, Spitz refused to attend the games. [48] "They voted me one of the top five Olympians of all time. Some of them are dead. But they invited the other ones to go to the Olympics, but not me," he said.

"Yes, I am a bit upset about it." [49] However, on August 14, 2008 Spitz appeared on NBC's Today Show where he clarified his statement and his pride in Michael Phelps: "It’s about time that somebody else takes the throne. And I’m very happy for him. I really, truly am...I was working with a corporate sponsor who elected not to bring their US contingent over to China, and they piled on more work for me here in the United States, which was great. So I wasn't able to get to the Olympics and watch Michael in the first couple of days. And they thought, some of these reporters, that I was supposed to be invited by some entity, and I told them that that wasn't really the case, that doesn't happen that way.

And so, I'm sort of disappointed that I wasn't there, but, you know, that interview somehow took a different turn, and I've done hundreds and hundreds of them and I've been true to form about the way I feel about Michael, and he's doing a great job for the United States and inspiring a lot of great performances by the other team members." [50] Also on August 14, 2008, in an interview aired on Los Angeles KNBC-4's morning news show, Today in L.A., Spitz was quoted saying he does believe that, "Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympic athlete ever." [51] On August 15, 2008, as part of an interview on NBC, Spitz said that he felt Phelps' performance in the 100 fly in Beijing was "epic".

Spitz paid this compliment to Phelps just two hours after his record-tying seventh gold medal during a live joint interview with Bob Costas: "You know, Bob and Michael, I wondered what I was going to say at this monumental time, when it would happen and who I would say it to, and of course I thought I was going to say it to you for some time now. But, it's the word that comes to mind, "epic". What you did tonight was epic, and it was epic for the whole world to see how great you really are. I never thought for one moment that you were out of that race and contention, because I watched you at Athens win the race by similar margins, and 18 months ago at the World's by similar margins. And, you know, that is a tribute to your greatness. And now the whole world knows. We are so proud of you Michael here in America, and we are so proud of you and the way that you handle yourself, and you represent such an inspiration to all the youngsters around the world.

You know, you weren't born when I did what I did, and I'm sure that I was a part of your inspiration, and I take that as a full compliment. And they say that you judge one's character by the company you keep, and I'm happy to keep company with you. And you have a tremendous responsibility for all those people that you are going to inspire over the next number of years, and I know that you will wear the crown well. Congratulations, Mike." [52] Views on drug testing Edit Mark Spitz has been consistent in criticism of both swimming's world bodies, FINA and the IOC, in their incomplete attempts to keep drugs out of the sport. He has felt that not enough has been done to monitor and encourage drug-free participation. In 1998 he criticized FINA for its "embarrassing" attempts to stamp out drug abuse, urging them to test for all known drugs. In September 1999 Spitz said the IOC had the technology to test for a plethora of drugs but was refusing to do so because of some IOC member protests.

[53] During a radio interview in Australia, Spitz was quoted as saying "They don't want to test for everything because there's tremendous pressure from the television networks because they want the television to have athletic competitions with the world record holders there for the finals. They want the medals not to be tainted in their value of accomplishment by winning them, and it's all about ratings and commercial selling of time and about money. And an International Olympic Committee has got their hand in the pockets of the network television people, so there's a tremendous conflict of interest in what they should do and what they're doing." [54] In August 2008 the Los Angeles Times reported, that Spitz continued to discuss drug testing and was saying "the IOC has sponsors who demand a good show. Television pays the IOC for the rights to that good show, and its sponsors want that too. Drug news and drug distractions are not a good show.

People are not going to tune in to see athletes have their medals taken away from them." [55] Records 1000+ images about 1968 Mexico Olympics on Pinterest | Mexico city, The podium and Black power Forward Mexican troops opened fire on student protestors in La Plaza de las Tres Culturas in Mexico City just days before the 1968 Olympic Games were due to begin. The violence followed weeks of demonstrations by students demanding democratic reform and social justice. Some say the death toll after the fighting ran into the thousands although it is thought to be between 200 and 300. See More ESPN.com: Spitz lived up to enormous expectations Spitz lived up to enormous expectations By M.B. Roberts Special to ESPN.com Mark Spitz, considered the swiftest swimmer of all time, made his big splash during the 1972 Olympics, becoming the first athlete to win seven gold medals in an Olympiad. His performances were even more remarkable considering world records were set in all seven events. Mark Spitz nearly mastered swimming's most difficult stroke, the butterfly.

Fulfilling all the pre-Olympic hype, he won four individual events -- in the 100- and 200-meter freestyle and 100- and 200-meter butterfly -- and three relay races. After his Munich triumph, Spitz was bombarded with endorsement offers. He soon came to be known more as a good-looking, mustachioed pitchman than for his signature butterfly stroke. He made some $7 million in two years. Despite the efforts of his agent and public-relations firm, his desired post-Olympics Hollywood career floundered as critics panned Spitz's performances on TV shows and commercials. It seemed he was criticized in his post-Olympic life as much as he was cheered. But controversy was nothing new. It surrounded Spitz almost from the time he plugged his nose and jumped in a pool. He was born on Feb. 10, 1950, in Modesto, Cal. When he was two years old, his family moved to Hawaii, where his father Arnold taught him to swim. After four years in Hawaii, the family returned to California -- Sacramento this time -- and at the YMCA Spitz received his first competitive instruction.

At age nine, his dad took him to Arden Hills Swim Club to train under the celebrated Sherm Chavoor, who would be a life-long mentor to Spitz. Arnold Spitz often told his son, "Swimming isn't everything; winning is." By age 10, Spitz held 17 national age-group and one world record. He was named the world's best 10-and-under swimmer. When he was 14, his father said, "It's now or never." The family moved to Santa Clara so Spitz could train with George Haines of the famed Santa Clara Swim Club, despite Arnold having to commute more than 80 miles to work each day. Spitz continued to excel, especially in swimming's most difficult stroke: the butterfly. At 16, he won the 100-meter butterfly at the National AAU Championships, the first of his 24 AAU titles. The next year, 1967, he won five gold medals at the Pan-American Games in Winnipeg. He was expected to win several individual gold medals at the 1968 Olympics, having already set 10 world records.

The controversy came when Spitz himself, sounding brash and cocky, predicted he would win six golds. He did not. In Mexico City, Spitz won two team golds -- in the 4 x 100 and 4 x 200-meter freestyle relays -- and two individual medals, silver in the 100-meter butterfly and bronze in the 100-meter freestyle. What would have been a triumph to most was a disappointment to Spitz. He re-dedicated himself to swimming, and left for Indiana University to train with legendary coach Doc Counsilman, who was also his coach in Mexico City. A pre-dental student, Spitz continued to accumulate awards, medals and world records in swimming. He won eight individual NCAA titles. In 1971, he won the Sullivan Award as the country's top amateur athlete. He was named World Swimmer of the Year in 1969, 1971 and 1972. In 1972, after graduating from Indiana, he was prepared for the Olympics. His first race in Munich was the 200-meter butterfly.

When Spitz touched the wall to win in 2:00.7, he leaped out of the water, his arms held high. Even more exciting, though, was his next event: the 200-meter freestyle. Spitz won in 1:52.78, defeating his teammate, Steve Genter, who had been released from the hospital only the day before following surgery for a collapsed lung. Later, on the medal stand, Spitz arrived barefoot, carrying his shoes. He dropped them to the side while "The Star Spangled Banner" played. Then he reached down to pick up his shoes and waved them to the cheering crowd. The Soviets accused him of blatant commercialism. Maintaining the gesture was innocent, the shoes were old and he wasn't paid, Spitz was cleared by an IOC committee. ZONE POLL He shook off the medal-stand incident and won his next event, the 100-meter butterfly (his favorite), by a full body length in 54.27 seconds. But controversy returned when Spitz was rumored to be pulling out of the 100 freestyle.

Despite fears that teammate Jerry Heidenreich could spoil his gold-medal sweep, Spitz did race. He won the gold, finishing a half-stroke ahead of Heidenreich in 51:22 seconds. Spitz's three team golds came in the 4 x 100-meter freestyle relay (3:26:42), the 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay (7:35.78) and the 4 x 100-meter medley relay (3:48.16). Then tragedy struck. At 4:30 a.m. September 5, Palestinian terrorists broke into the athletes' compound, killing two members of the Israeli delegation and taking nine others hostage. Spitz, who had won his final medal only hours earlier, lay sleeping nearby. In the morning Spitz attended a press conference, flanked by coaches and German police. "I think the murders in the village are very tragic," he said. "I have no further comment." Spitz, who is Jewish, was understandably nervous. He left for London immediately, before the closing ceremonies. Spitz was criticized for discussing his movie career while the nine hostages were still held.

(Tragically, they were killed in an attempted rescue). Despite some negative press, Spitz received a hero's welcome at home. He quit swimming, shelved plans for dental school and sorted through his numerous endorsement offers. His agent said Spitz was the greatest hero since Lindbergh and one of two people whose name everyone in the U.S. knew (the other being President Nixon). He signed Spitz as a spokesperson for the Schick Company, the California Milk Advisory Board, adidas, Speedo and countless other companies making everything from swimming pools to men's underwear. A poster featuring Spitz wearing his swimsuit and seven gold medals made him the hottest pin-up since Betty Grable. Despite worldwide female admiration, Spitz called and began dating the daughter of one of his father's business acquaintances after seeing her picture. Less than a year after Munich, Spitz and Suzy Weiner, a UCLA theater student and part-time model, were married. His showbiz career was not so storybook. Spitz's performances on a Bob Hope special, Sonny & Cher, Johnny Carson and many others were bland. Hollywood quit calling. Even commercial clients backed off.

He continued as a broadcaster for some time, but within a few years, he had all but vanished as a public figure. Spitz amused himself with his new hobby: sailing. He eventually began a successful real-estate company in Beverly Hills. People always asked him, "Do you still swim?" Remarkably, the answer most of the time was "no." But in 1989 at age 39, at 6-foot-1 and 182 pounds (eight pounds heavier and 17 years older than in 1972), he began training for the 1992 Olympic Trials. His event was the 100-meter butterfly. Although his 1972 records had long been broken, he was encouraged because he had beaten then-record holder Rowdy Gaines in a series of races in 1984. In 1991, a mustache-less Spitz raced Olympians Tom Jager and Matt Biondi in separate 50-meter butterfly races on ABC's Wide World of Sports. Spitz lost both. He also failed to qualify for the 1992 Olympics.

His best time was 58:03; he needed 55:59. Spitz still lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two sons. He enjoys sailing and traveling. Having given up his real-estate business, he considers himself an "entrepreneur" and continues to do promotional work. Santa Monica Press | Mark Spitz : The Extraordinary Life of an Olympic Champion Mark Spitz : The Extraordinary Life of an Olympic Champion Mark Spitz : The Extraordinary Life of an Olympic Champion Author: Richard J. Foster Foreword by Mark Spitz & Introduction by Keith Jackson Release Date: The Only Authorized Biography of the Greatest Olympic Athlete of All Time! Mark Spitz is arguably the most famous and successful Olympic athlete of all time because of his legendary performances at the 1972 Olympics, where he won seven gold medals while breaking seven world records. His amazing life story is told for the first time in the authorized biography Mark Spitz: The Extraordinary Life of an Olympic Champion.

This exclusive account follows Spitz’s roller-coaster career: age-group prodigy, four-medal "flop" at the 1968 Olympics, outstanding collegiate career at Indiana University, gold-medal haul in 1972, lucrative endorsements, and a brief and unsuccessful stint in entertainment. And the meatier stories—the role his father played in his career, his often stormy relationship with coaches and teammates, his experiences as a Jewish athlete with anti-Semitism and the Munich massacre, his impact on the commercialization of swimming, his relationship with Michael Phelps, and others—have been largely unknown, ignored, barely touched upon, or distorted. Mark Spitz: The Extraordinary Life of an Olympic Champion provides insights into Spitz’s career, behind-the-scenes anecdotes about him and his competitors, and untold stories that shed light on his complicated personality and relationship with his father. Old and new fans alike will appreciate the depth and details of this swimming icon’s story.

Click below to purchase this book: Read Excerpt Chapter 1—A Favorite Color Emerges Chapter 2—Swimming for Sherm Chapter 3—The Move to Santa Clara Chapter 4—The 1968 Swim Camp Cabal Chapter 5—Four-Medal “Flop” in Mexico City Chapter 6—Finding Doc Chapter 7—The NCAA Years and the Spitz-Russell Rematch Chapter 8—Change for the Better Chapter 9—Pressure at the 1972 Trials Chapter 10—On the Road to Redemption Chapter 11—What If? Chapter 13—History is Made Chapter 14—”They’re All Gone” Chapter 15—$ign$ of the Time$ Chapter 16—Back in the Water Chapter 17—Presidents, Kings, and Queens Chapter 18—Similar Goals, Different Journeys Epilogue—Where Are They Now? Mark Spitz’s World Records Index INTRODUCTION by Keith Jackson It is fair that one should expect extraordinary achievements to come from the Olympic Games.

Founded in 1896 as a celebration of sport for the youth of the world, the original intent quickly changed in 1900 when the national flags of participating countries were brought into Paris’s Vélodrome de Vincennes for the first time. “It is not the winning that matters most, but the taking part in the celebration that matters most,” quickly became a thing of the past. Winning did matter and it was proven immediately. And as the Games traveled on it was proven that a gold medal worn by a favorite son or daughter could in fact lift the pride and spirit of an entire nation. I first became aware that Mark Spitz might be a special athlete during his time at Indiana University. The famed coach Doc Counsilman suggested it more than once, and West Coast club coaches George Haines and Sherm Chavoor echoed the same theme. At the 1968 Games in Mexico City, Spitz predicted six golds but got only two. It didn’t seem to disappoint him all that much—it just made his fire burn hotter, and his determination grow greater.

I had never seen an athlete’s eyes reflect such will; it was pure joy to watch him day after day, and the anticipation of each race was breathtaking! It was in 1972 that the world was stunned by his remarkable performance. At the Munich Olympics, Spitz won the incredible total of seven gold medals, setting seven world records (four individual races and three relays) in the course of accomplishing this extraordinary feat. I was the ABC announcer for every event held in the new Schwimmhalle, and by the time Spitz had won the last of his gold medals it was a miracle there was still water in the pool. The great Aussie swimmer Murray Rose was my partner on the broadcasts, and even though Rose had won several Olympic gold medals himself, he joined me and millions of others in trying to find the right words to adequately describe the remarkable performances we were so privileged to witness. At the end of Spitz’s fifth race, fifth gold medal, and fifth world record, a Russian journalist I had come to know suggested that “perhaps Olympic officials should check Spitz more closely—he may have the genes of a dolphin!” Who is Mark Spitz?

Not that many people really know, because athletes like Spitz who perform at such a high level need to be insulated in order to retain their focus. However, in this book, Rich Foster reveals the real Mark Spitz, and for that, I for one will be eternally grateful. Author Information Richard J. Foster is the current president of United States Aquatic Sports, the umbrella organization that represents all U.S. aquatic sports (swimming, water polo, synchronized swimming, and diving) in the international governing body. He has also served as a board member of the United States Olympic Committee and as president of USA Water Polo for twelve years. A practicing attorney, Foster specializes in sports law and has represented numerous Olympic and professional athletes. He also teaches a graduate-level sports law course at Long Beach State University. He lives in Long Beach, California. Reviews “What is it that makes a champion? Why is it that after almost 40 years, Mark Spitz is still the most famous swimmer in the world? Like Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan, Mark Spitz excelled when the pressure was the greatest and the spotlight the brightest.

In this remarkable biography, Rich Foster explores and explains the complexities of the personality and makeup of the man who accomplished the greatest athletic achievement in the history of the Olympic Games.” —Bruce Wigo, CEO, International Swimming Hall of Fame “Fans of Mark Spitz and swimming in general will love this thorough look at the personal and professional lives of this great Olympian.” —Mark Schubert, head Olympic coach, USA Swimming “Mark Spitz is one of the most significant figures in the history of the Olympic Games and is a remarkable human being. His story is long overdue.” —Peter Ueberroth, chairman, United States Olympic Committee “Rich Foster not only captures the magnificent story of Mark Spitz’s career, he also masterfully describes the politics and intrigue of the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games.” —Bob Seagren, Olympic gold medalist, pole vault (1968), and Olympic silver medalist, pole vault (1972) “A marvelous look at a legendary athlete and a complex man.” —Chuck Wielgus, executive director, USA Swimming “I have known Mark for 35 years. He is a true Olympic icon. We have traveled the world together.

What a life he has led!” —Bruce Jenner, Olympic gold medalist, decathalon (1976) “Rich Foster does a magnificent job telling the true story of the greatest swimmer of all time.” —Brent Rutemiller, publisher, Swimming World Magazine “This is a riveting, inspiring look at one of the most important American athletes in the history of sports.” —Ross Wales, former Honorary Secretary of FINA and Olympic bronze medalist, 100-meter butterfly (1968) “It’s been 36 years since Mark Spitz won a record seven gold medals in swimming during the tragic 1972 Munich Olympics, and he remains a giant figure in the history of both competitive swimming and the Olympics. The iconic photograph of Spitz wearing his swimsuit and all seven medals was the best-selling poster of a sports figure until the late 1970s. Foster, the current president of United States Aquatic Sports and a former member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, takes the reader back to Spitz’s turbulent youth, when he was seen by many as an arrogant jerk.

Foster’s balanced and meticulous retelling of Spitz’s challenges, struggles, and triumphs is informed by extensive interviews with Spitz as well as his family, coaches, and competitors. Furthermore, the fine points of swim racing are discussed here . . . While swimming does not generally garner the interest that other sports do, Spitz is perhaps the finest swimmer of all time, and his ongoing life is well recounted here. Recommended for collections focused on swimming or the Olympics.” —Library Journal Mexico City 1968 - AOC Mexico City 1968 Norma Enriqueta Basilio de Sotelo (ATH) Number of nations: 5,516 (4,735 men, 781 women) Number of sports: View Full Medal Tally The 1968 Games was the first – and, to this date, only – Games to be held at high altitude. Mexico City was situated 2240m above sea level and the thin air did impact adversely on some performances. In many ways, it was a Games of contention.

Riots, strikes and protests occurred in Mexico City in the lead-up to the Games, resulting in the tragic deaths of hundreds of young protesters when police opened fire on a student rally a fortnight before the Opening Ceremony. During the Games, African-American runners Tommie Smith and John Carlos staged their own ‘Black Power’ demonstration on the medal podium after the 200m sprint final, each raising a gloved fist in the air during the playing of their national anthem (the other man on the podium was Australian Peter Norman, the silver medallist). The Games also featured one of the singularly celebrated feats in Olympic history: American Bob Beamon’s historic world record long jump leap of 8.90m to win the gold medal. The previous world record was 8.35m; Beamon’s jump was so extraordinary it would remain a world record until 1991. He achieved it with the fourth jump of the final on the afternoon of October 18, collapsing in a fit of emotion when the distance was displayed on the scoreboard.

A significant moment in Games’ history occurred in the men’s 10,000m when African athletes swept the medals for the first time in an event and a Kenyan, Naftali Temu, won his nation’s first gold medal. Australia’s Ron Clarke, who lit the Olympic flame in Melbourne 1956, was sixth. African runners would later rule middle distance and distance running at the Games. Other athletics highlights included American Dick Fosbury winning the high jump with his new leaping technique, the Fosbury Flop, which would revolutionise the event; and his team-mate Al Oerter winning a record fourth consecutive gold medal in discus. Such results helped the US to the top of the medal table, winning 45 gold. In the pool, Americans also dominated. Winning two gold medals was US swimmer Mark Spitz, who would dominate the next Olympics in Munich. Eastern European gymnasts, led by the Soviet Union’s Mikhail Voronin (seven medals) and Czechoslovakia’s Vera Caslavska (four gold) were outstanding in their sport.

In weightlifting, one of the Games’ true giants, 170kg Leonid Zhabotinsky, won his second heavyweight gold medal for the Soviet Union. Mexican hurdler Enriqueta Basilio de Sotelo lit the Olympic flame in the Opening Ceremony, becoming the first woman to do so. Mark Spitz - Seven golds - Munich 1972 Olympic Games - YouTube Mark Spitz - Seven golds - Munich 1972 Olympic Games Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jul 10, 2012 Don't miss out on everything Olympic! Click here for all highlights, behind-the-scenes and more! At the 1972 Munich Games, Spitz was determined to make up for his below-par performances four years earlier at the 1968 Mexico City Games. He did not disappoint. Over a period of eight days, Mark Spitz entered seven events, won all seven and set a world record in every one.

Mark Spitz held the record for most gold medals won at a single Olympic Games for 36 years. It was finally broken by American phenomenon Michael Phelps who won eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games. Category Mark Spitz Finishes Last In The 200m Butterfly - Mexico 1968 Olympics - YouTube Mark Spitz Finishes Last In The 200m Butterfly - Mexico 1968 Olympics Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Apr 16, 2013 Don't miss out on everything Olympic! Click here for all highlights, behind-the-scenes and more! Mark Spitz didn't have the greatest performances at the Mexico 1968 Olympic Games and these highlights from his last place finish in the men's 200m butterfly show that it wasn't always glory for the swimming icon. Subscribe to the Olympic channel: Before becoming an international legend, Mark Spitz made his Olympic debut at the Mexico 1968 Games.

Still, even for one of the most iconic swimmers ever, things don't always go as planned. The American swimmer had brashly predicted that he would win six gold medals at the 1968 Mexico City Games. Although he did take home two gold medals from the relays, he performed well below expectations in his individual races. His worst result at the Mexico Games was last place in the final of the 200m butterfly. As disappointing as his results might have been, he still won two individual medals, taking third in the 100m freestyle and winning silver in the 100m butterfly, second to fellow American swimmer Douglas Russell. Four years later, at the Munich 1972 Games, Spitz would become the most successful swimmer in a single edition of the Olympic Games only to be surpassed 36 years later by Michael Phelps, at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Find out more about Mark Spitz: Watch Mark Spitz's performance in Munich: Category 5 sports that the U.S. has never medaled in at the Summer Olympics | For The Win 5 sports that the U.S.

has never medaled in at the Summer Olympics 5 sports that the U.S. has never medaled in at the Summer Olympics 5 sports that the U.S. has never medaled in at the Summer Olympics By Maggie Hendricks July 25, 2016 7:56 am 1.6k shares email By: Maggie Hendricks | July 25, 2016 7:56 am Over 26 Summer Olympics, the United States has 2.399 medals, with 976 gold. With that many medals, you would think the U.S. has a medal in every sport the Olympics will offer in 2016, but it doesn’t. No American team or athlete has a medal in these five sports. 1. Badminton (AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELEJOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images) The U.S has a strong young team here, but will have a tough time beating the experienced teams from India, Indonesia and Malaysia. 2. Handball Neither the U.S. men or women qualified in handball, so the medal drought will continue.

(AFP PHOTO / THOMAS COEXTHOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images) 3. Rhythmic gymnastics Of the five sports listed here, this is the sport with the best shot at breaking through for a U.S. medal. Laura Zeng won five golds at the Pan-American Games, but will still have to defeat strong challengers from Russia and Ukraine. (AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGIKAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images) 4. Table tennis Introduced to the Olympics in 1988, the vast majority of golds have been won by China. Though the U.S. has some young up-and-comers, it’s not likely they will come away from Rio with medals. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) 5. Trampoline An Olympic sport since 2000, China and Russia have the majority of medals. The best American medal shot, Charlotte Drury, injured her foot just before the Olympic trials. Related:

Question: How many gold medals did Mark Spitz win in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City?
Answer: Two