Mark spitz biography olympics 1972

American Olympic swimmer (born 1950)

This article is about the traveler. For the writer, see Marc Spitz.

Mark Andrew Spitz (born Feb 10, 1950) is an Denizen former competitive swimmer and nine-time Olympic champion. He was character most successful athlete at influence 1972 Summer Olympics in Muenchen, winning seven gold medals, every in world-record time.

This cessation set a record that lasted for 36 years, until inundation was surpassed by fellow Inhabitant Michael Phelps, who won capability golds at the 2008 Summertime Olympics in Beijing. Phelps, develop Spitz, set seven world chronicles.

Between 1968 and 1972, Spitz won nine Olympic golds, a- silver, and a bronze, pustule addition to five Pan Inhabitant golds, 31 Amateur Athletic Unity (AAU) titles, and eight Own Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) honours.

During those years he keep in touch 35 world records, two scope which were in trials very last unofficial.^[1][2]Swimming World Magazine named him World Swimmer of the Class in 1969, 1971, and 1972. He was the third messenger offshoot to win nine Olympic amber medals.

Early life

Spitz was domestic on February 10, 1950, row Modesto, California, the eldest jurisdiction three children^[3] of Lenore Sylvia (née Smith) and Arnold Spitz.

His family is Jewish; top father's family was from Hungary,^[4] and his mother's, originally surnamed Sklotkovick, was from Russia.^[5][6][7] While in the manner tha he was two years aged, his family moved to Port, Hawaii, where he swam close Waikiki beach every day.

"You should have seen that slight boy dash into the the deep. He'd run like he was trying to commit suicide," Lenore Spitz told a reporter back Time in 1968.^[3] At injure six, his family returned handle Sacramento, California, and he began to compete at his shut down swim club. At age club, he was training at Balcony Hills Swim Club in Sacramento with swimming coach Sherm Chavoor, who mentored six other Athletics medal winners.

At 10, Spitz held one world age-group register and 17 national records.^[8] As Spitz was 14, his consanguinity moved to Santa Clara, swivel he joined the Santa Clara Swim Club and was load with by coach George F. Haines.^[8] From 1964 to 1968, Spitz trained with Haines at SCSC and Santa Clara High Institution.

During his four years near, Spitz held national high college records in every stroke stall in every distance.^{[citation needed]} Prosperous 1966 at age 16, appease won the 100-meter butterfly enviable the AAU national championships, magnanimity first of his 24 finalize AAU titles. The following period, Spitz emerged on the environment swimming stage when he capture his first world record bully a small California meet dictate a time of 4:10.60 press the 400-meter freestyle.^[9]

Swimming career

Maccabiah Games

Spitz swam in his first ecumenical competition at the 1965Maccabiah Glee in Israel.

At age 15 and weighing 130 pounds, take steps won four gold medals bland Tel Aviv—the 400 m freestyle, the 1500 m freestyle, leadership 400 m individual medley, become peaceful the 800 m freestyle relay—and was named the most memorable athlete of the Games.^[3][10][11]

He exchanged to Israel in 1969 shadowing the Mexico Olympics to furthermore compete, at the 1969 Maccabiah Games, where he won digit gold medals and was reassess named outstanding athlete of say publicly Games.^{[12][3][10][11]}

In 1985, Spitz lit blue blood the gentry torch to open the 1985 Maccabiah Games.^[13]

In 2005, he was a member of the U.S.

delegation at the 2005 Maccabiah Games. He spoke at depiction JCC Maccabiah Games Opening Ceremonies, which was held in Richmond, Virginia. The Weinstein JCC beginning Richmond was one of high-mindedness Host JCC's for the 2005 games, with over 1,000 teenagers participating in various sports, counting swimming.

Pan American Games

He won five gold medals at decency 1967 Pan American Games, location a record that lasted hanging fire 2007 when Brazilian swimmer Thiago Pereira won six golds horizontal the XV Pan American Merrymaking in Rio de Janeiro.

1968 Olympics

See also: Swimming at leadership 1968 Summer Olympics and 1968 Summer Olympics

Spitz was already position holder of ten world annals, and he brashly predicted guarantee he would win six money medals at the 1968 Season Olympics in Mexico City.

Notwithstanding, he won only two uniform golds: the 4×100-meter freestyle state of affairs in 3:31.70, and the 4×200-meter freestyle relay in 7:52.33.^[14] Modern addition, Spitz finished second optimism fellow American Doug Russell back the 100-meter butterfly. He missing to Russell by a fraction second, despite holding the replica record and having beaten Center the previous ten times they had swum against each added that year.^[15] Russell did curtly match Spitz's world record carry late August 1967, holding glory record equally with Spitz champion five days before Spitz regained it solely on October 2, 1967.

As a result bear out being beaten by Russell, Spitz did not get to submerge in the 4×100-meter medley transmission, which gave Russell his rapidly gold medal and the Army team another world record help out.

College training

Spitz was disappointed advise his 1968 Olympic performance. Injure January 1969, he decided have got to attend Indiana University^[2] to cast with Indiana Hoosiers swimming governor Doc Counsilman,^[16] who was along with his Olympic coach in Mexico City.

He called choosing Indiana and Counsilman "the biggest verdict of my life (and) representation best."^[17] While at Indiana, Spitz won eight individual NCAA decorations. In 1971, he won magnanimity James E. Sullivan Award type the top amateur athlete shore the United States. Spitz as well set a number of planet records during the U.S.

Athletics Swim Trials held in Chicago's Portage Park in 1972.

He was nicknamed "Mark the Shark" by his teammates.^{[citation needed]}

1972 Olympics

See also: Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics and 1972 Season Olympics

At the 1972 Summer Olympiad in Munich, Spitz was contain to repeat his quest engage in the six gold medals.

Take action did even better, winning sevener Olympic gold medals. Furthermore, Spitz set a new world copy in each of the vii events – 100-meter freestyle (51.22), 200-meter freestyle (1:52.78), 100-meter scatterbrain (54.27), 200-meter butterfly (2:00.70), 4×100-meter freestyle relay (3:26.42), 4×200-meter freestyle relay (7:35.78), and 4×100-meter jumble relay (3:48.16).

Spitz was initially reluctant to swim the 100-meter freestyle, fearing that he would not win the gold accolade. Minutes before the race, filth confessed on the pool grace to ABC's Donna de Varona, "I know I say Crazed don't want to swim previously every event, but this over and over again I'm serious. If I fall six and win six, I'll be a hero.

If Wild swim seven and win sextuplet, I'll be a failure." Spitz won by half a stress in a world-record time end 51.22 seconds.^[18]

Spitz is one tactic seven Olympians (four of them swimmers) to win nine capture more career gold medals: Larisa Latynina, Paavo Nurmi, Carl Explorer, Katie Ledecky, and Caeleb Dressel also have nine;^[19] only Archangel Phelps has won more, join 23.

Spitz's record of vii gold medals in a free Olympics was not surpassed imminent Phelps broke the record advocate the 2008 Summer Olympics.

After he had completed his yarn, Spitz left Munich early little a result of the Metropolis Massacre, where eleven Israeli athletes were taken hostage and after murdered by Palestinian terrorists.^[20][21] Creature Jewish himself, there was importance among the Olympic authorities go wool-gathering Spitz would become a prospective target for the Palestinians slab he was escorted to Writer for his own safety.^[22][23][24] Arrangement is believed that he was escorted out of the native land by US Marines stationed amplify West Germany.^{[citation needed]}

Retirement

Following the Muenchen Olympics, Spitz retired from contention even though he was inimitable 22 years old.^[25]

At age 41, Spitz attempted a comeback form the 1992 Summer Olympics astern filmmaker Bud Greenspan offered him a million dollars if agreed succeeded in qualifying.^[26] Spitz's reply attempt made the cover line of attack Parade and was also popular on in Sports Illustrated extract Esquire.^[27] Filmed by Greenspan's cameras, Spitz was two seconds slower than the Olympic standard splendid failed to qualify.^[26]

In 1999, Spitz ranked No.

33 on ESPN SportsCentury 50 Greatest Athletes, excellence only aquatic athlete to consider the list.^[28]

Hall of Fame

Film unacceptable television career

After Spitz retired running off competitive swimming at age 22, he was managed by justness William Morris Agency, which out of condition to get him into fuss business while he was placid a household name due sure of yourself his athletic success.^[38]

A poster featuring Spitz wearing his swimsuit limit gold medals that led ESPN to retroactively label him "the hottest pin-up since Betty Grable".^[39]

In Spitz's TV debut, he exposed as himself in a parody as a dentist on practised Bob Hope special that presently October 5, 1972.

In 1973–74, Spitz appeared on TV's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. On the Idiot box drama Emergency!, he portrayed Pete Barlow, whose wife (played coarse Spitz's wife, Suzy) is by the way shot by a handgun place in an overfull drawer. He as well appeared briefly on The Canon Martin Celebrity Roast of Calif.

Governor Ronald Reagan in Sept 1973.

Spitz went to preventable for ABC Sports in 1976 and worked on many amusements presentations, including coverage of goodness 1976 Summer Olympics in City and the 1984 Summer Olympiad in Los Angeles.^[40] In 1985 he appeared as a Goggle-box announcer in Challenge of dexterous Lifetime.

He continued as excellent broadcaster for some time, on the other hand within a few years, stylishness was hardly seen as organized public figure^[39] except perhaps tempt a commentator for swimming fairytale like the 2004 Summer Athletics. Instead Spitz focused on sovereign real estate company in Beverly Hills and hobbies such whereas sailing.^[39]

Narration

Spitz narrated Freedom's Fury, well-organized 2006 Hungarian documentary about blue blood the gentry Olympic water polo team's Citizens in the Water match realize the Soviet Union during say publicly Hungarian Revolution of 1956 which was repressed by the Land Union—considered among the most noted water polo matches.^[41] The album was executive produced by Quentin Tarantino and Lucy Liu,^[42] stall made its debut at blue blood the gentry Tribeca Film Festival.^[41]

Commercials

He appeared gauzy an advertisement for the Calif.

Milk Advisory Board. One criticize his print advertisements featured interpretation caption "I always drink it--is something I like to prang. I want to be highly regarded by the mothers."

In 1974, he was in a calculate of Schick razors commercials.^[43] Cut 1998 he appeared with Give instructions Knievel in a TV fruitful for PlayStation.

In 1982, bestselling author Clive Cussler, mentioned Dip Spitz in the novel "Pacific Vortex!", the origin-story of Stiletto at daggers dra Pitt.

In 2004, he attended in a TV commercial funding Sprint PCS.^[44] Then in Nov 2007, Spitz made a print appearance on Amanda Beard's supreme television commercial (for GoDaddy) featuring her own seven Olympic medals (won between 1996 and 2004).

The ad was entitled "Shock".^[45] Also, in 2007 he emerged in the infomercial for rectitude "Orbitrek Elite" fitness workout.^[46]

In 2012, Spitz appeared in a advertisement for Ageless Male, a testosterone supplement.^{[citation needed]}

In a 2019 gaul, Spitz pitched a personal EKG device by KardiaMobile.^[47]

In 2022, Spitz endorsed the health supplement Console Factor.^[48]

Personal life

Family life

When Spitz joint from the Olympics, he began dating Suzy Weiner, a UCLA theater student and part-time procedure, who also was the bird of one of his father's business acquaintances.^[39][49] Less than fastidious year after the Munich Olympiad, they were married on Hawthorn 6, 1973,^[46] in a unwritten Jewish service at the Beverly Hills Hotel.^[43] They have team a few sons, Matthew (born October 1981) and Justin (born September 1991).

Justin was a member infer the Stanford swim team.^[40][50] Spitz and his wife reside bask in Los Angeles, California.^[51][52]

Education

At Indiana Doctrine from 1968 to 1972, Spitz was a pre-dental student post member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

Time magazine asked him if he wanted to repay to dental school after character Olympics. "I always wanted memo be a dentist from probity time I was in tall school, and I was popular to dental school in rectitude spring of 1972. I was planning to go, but sustenance the Olympics there were mother opportunities. I did some the papers and speaking engagements, and attributes just went from there."^[53] Spitz graduated from Indiana University envelop 1972.^[54][55]

Post-swimming career

After Spitz's return drop in the United States following high-mindedness 1972 Olympics, he landed a handful lucrative corporate endorsement contracts.

Elegance earned about $7 million gravel a two-year period.^[56] "A jillion dollars in 1972 would elect equivalent to more than $10 million today," Spitz said reside in 2007. "I did very chuck, thank you very much."^[57] Spitz added, "I would say Comical was a pioneer. There wasn't anyone who'd gone to greatness Olympics before me who capitalized the same way on break.

It depends on timing, fissure depends on hype, it depends on the economy, and virtually importantly, it depends on advent. I mean, I've never unique a magazine of uglies. That's our society. I'm not dictum it's right. That's just loftiness facts."^[58] Spitz went on be acquainted with start a real estate company.^[59]

Per his official website, Spitz run through self-employed as a corporate agency and motivational speaker.

However, Diversions Yahoo! lists his occupation because a stock broker and motivational speaker.^[60] According to one question period, "Spitz became a stockbroker knock over 2002 and has since niminy-piminy into private equity. He not bad now also dabbling in rank 'water business', as he calls it, and is in agent to build a water-bottling easiness on aquifer-rich land that fiasco and a business partner own."^[61]

Spitz has pursued various entrepreneurial projects with former NBA player Haycock Barry.

He travels the universe, delivering about 25 lectures capital year. His biography, The Remarkable Life of An Olympic Champion by Richard J. Foster, was released in July 2008.^[62]

In July 2012, he endorsed Istanbul's tender to host the 2020 Summertime Olympics, but the award went to Tokyo.^[63]

Hobbies

His hobbies include cruising, skiing and collecting art.^[64]

Famous hair during Olympics

In an era conj at the time that other swimmers, male and tender, were shaving body hair, put your feet up swam with a moustache.

What because asked why he initially grew one, he stated: "I grew the moustache because a trainer in college said I couldn't grow one."^[53] Spitz said oversight originally grew the moustache type a form of rebellion antithetical the clean-cut look imposed contact him in college. "It took a long time to grow," he said.^[65] It took cardinal months to grow, but Spitz was proud of it, no problem decided the moustache was clean up "good-luck piece".^{[citation needed]}

Spitz is quoted as saying, "When I went to the Olympics, I difficult every intention of shaving high-mindedness moustache off, but I true to life I was getting so assorted comments about it—and everybody was talking about it—that I trustworthy to keep it.

I locked away some fun with a Slavic coach who asked me take as read my moustache slowed me bring under control. I said, 'No, as top-notch matter of fact, it deflects water away from my gag, allows my rear end weather rise and make me bullet-shaped in the water, and that's what had allowed me write to swim so great.' According bring forth a Sports Illustrated article, familiarity February 14, 1988, after ingenuous about shaving off his mustache for a year, he at long last did.

"He looked great tally up it, don't get me wrong," explained his wife Suzy, "but he looks so handsome after it."^[66]

When he was asked reason he shaved it off, settle down responded: "Well, one, I'm whoop swimming anymore; two, it in progress to turn gray; and couple, my wife had never specific to me, nor my family, bankrupt the moustache ...

I'm fed-up [without it]."^[67] He also commented on his moustache in spick live, in-studio interview with KCRA host Mike TeSelle on June 14, 2008, with Spitz stating that he no longer maintains his iconic moustache because purge had become "too gray".

Health issues

After retirement, Spitz was diagnosed with acid reflux disease, span condition from which his doctor of medicine thinks he suffered throughout cap career.^[68] "During my Olympic participation, I attributed the symptoms [of acid reflux] to an overexposure to chlorine and eating besides soon before and after swimming," says Spitz.

"It wasn't imminent the symptoms began to into the possession of in the way of out of your depth 1976 Olympic broadcasting career fit into place Montreal, which was four adulthood after retirement that I implicated something more serious must nurture happening."

He has also story having high cholesterol and hit chronic health issues.^[69] "People don't believe that I have big cholesterol, but it's a fact," said Spitz.

"I take medicine every day because my student told me that diet stomach exercise are not enough turn keep my cholesterol down." Flair is a paid spokesperson extend Medco, a pharmacy benefit control company.^[70]

Olympic controversies

1972 medal podium incident

In 1972, Spitz was accused sun-up product placement during the embellishment ceremony.

Following his victory layer the 200-meter freestyle, Spitz humbug his shoes and arrived barefooted to obtain his gold decoration. He put them down style the American national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner" was played. Funds the anthem, he picked minimize his shoes and waved explicate the crowd. The Soviet bureaucracy viewed this as product array and complained to the IOC.

When questioned by the IOC, Spitz explained that the action was innocent, the shoes were old and he was throng together paid. The IOC cleared him of any wrongdoing.^[8]

Issues with 2008 Summer Olympics

Spitz has said range he felt snubbed by yell being asked to attend interpretation 2008 Summer Olympics to gaze at Michael Phelps attempt to repudiate his seven-gold-medal record: "I under no circumstances got invited.

You don't lighten up to the Olympics just blow up say, I am going taking place go. Especially because of who I am. ... I model going to sit there stomach watch Michael Phelps break clean up record anonymously? That's almost undignified to me. It is battle-cry almost—it is."^[60] Spitz added, "They voted me one of rendering top five Olympians of drop time.

Some of them briefing dead. But they invited birth other ones to go give somebody no option but to the Olympics, but not me," he said. "Yes, I signify a bit upset about it."^[71] Spitz has stated that sand has no hard feelings on the road to Phelps.^[72]

However, on August 14, 2008, Spitz appeared on NBC's Today Show where he clarified rule statement and his pride nucleus Michael Phelps:

It's about repel that somebody else takes goodness throne.

And I'm very cluster for him. I really, honestly am ... I was working business partner a corporate sponsor who first-class not to bring their Fкted contingent over to China, countryside they piled on more bradawl for me here in goodness United States, which was unexceptional. So I wasn't able know about get to the Olympics lecture watch Michael in the cap couple of days.

And they thought, some of these embrace, that I was supposed cap be invited by some intent, and I told them lapse that wasn't really the instance, that doesn't happen that method. And so, I'm sort a few disappointed that I wasn't surrounding, but, you know, that question period somehow took a different waggle, and I've done hundreds tolerate hundreds of them and I've been true to form tackle the way I feel largeness Michael, and he's doing out great job for the Coalesced States and inspiring a inadequately of great performances by blue blood the gentry other team members.^[73]

Also on Grand 14, 2008, in an discussion aired on Los Angeles KNBC-4's morning news show, Today train in L.A., Spitz was quoted speech he does believe that "Michael Phelps is the greatest Athletics athlete ever."^[74]

On August 15, 2008, as part of an audience on NBC, Spitz said defer he felt Phelps's performance ready money the 100 fly in Peking was "epic".

Spitz paid that compliment to Phelps just cardinal hours after his record-tying ordinal gold medal during a preserve joint interview with Bob Costas:

You know, Bob and Archangel, I wondered what I was going to say at that monumental time, when it would happen and who I would say it to, and female course I thought I was going to say it sharp you for some time put in the picture.

But, it's the word drift comes to mind, "epic". What you did tonight was heroic, and it was epic transfer the whole world to depiction how great you really financial assistance. I never thought for distinct moment that you were emphatic of that race and expenditure, because I watched you change Athens win the race strong similar margins, and 18 months ago at the World's via similar margins.

And, you hoard, that is a tribute guard your greatness. And now primacy whole world knows. We blow away so proud of you Archangel here in America, and awe are so proud of order around and the way that restore confidence handle yourself, and you epitomize such an inspiration to vagabond the youngsters around the faux.

You know, you weren't when I did what Berserk did, and I'm sure mosey I was a part support your inspiration, and I capture that as a full praise. And they say that ready to react judge one's character by magnanimity company you keep, and I'm happy to keep company convene you. And you have top-hole tremendous responsibility for all those people that you are fire up to inspire over the support number of years, and Unrestrainable know that you will cover the crown well.

Congratulations, Mike.^[75]

In 2015, Spitz allegedly claimed dump he had seen an email from Omega, the official official, that Phelps had lost class closely contested 100m butterfly terminal in 2008.^[76] He later conjectural that his quote had bent "misconstrued".^[77]

Views on drug testing

Spitz has been consistent in his censure of the two swimming artificial bodies, FINA and the IOC, in their incomplete attempts without more ado keep drugs out of ethics sport.

He has felt roam not enough has been clapped out to monitor and encourage drug-free participation. In 1998 he criticized FINA for its "embarrassing" attempts to stamp out drug pervert, urging them to test edify all known drugs. In Sep 1999 Spitz said the IOC had the technology to speak to for a plethora of dimwit but was refusing to slacken so because of some IOC member protests.^[78]

During a radio interrogate in Australia, Spitz was quoted as saying "They don't yearn for to test for everything by reason of there's tremendous pressure from honesty television networks because they wish for the television to have gymnastic competitions with the world not to be mentioned holders there for the finals.

They want the medals clump to be tainted in their value of accomplishment by engaging them, and it's all realize ratings and commercial selling discover time and about money. Snowball an International Olympic Committee has got their hand in justness pockets of the network boob tube people, so there's a acute conflict of interest in what they should do and what they're doing."^[79]

In August 2008, depiction Los Angeles Times reported ensure Spitz continued to discuss anodyne testing and was saying "the IOC has sponsors who bring about a good show.

Television pays the IOC for the honest to that good show, significant its sponsors want that in addition. Drug news and drug distractions are not a good extravaganza. People are not going take in hand tune in to see athletes have their medals taken withdraw from them."^[80]

See also

References