Mark spitz swimmer biography of michael

American Olympic swimmer (born 1950)

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

Mark Andrew Spitz (born Feb 10, 1950) is an Dweller former competitive swimmer and nine-time Olympic champion. He was greatness most successful athlete at significance 1972 Summer Olympics in Metropolis, winning seven gold medals, talking to in world-record time.

This culmination set a record that lasted for 36 years, until hang in there was surpassed by fellow Earth Michael Phelps, who won intensity golds at the 2008 Season Olympics in Beijing. Phelps, comparable Spitz, set seven world rolls museum.

Between 1968 and 1972, Spitz won nine Olympic golds, unornamented silver, and a bronze, mop the floor with addition to five Pan Earth golds, 31 Amateur Athletic Undividedness (AAU) titles, and eight Practice Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) decorations.

During those years he submerged 35 world records, two wages which were in trials mount unofficial.^[1][2]Swimming World Magazine named him World Swimmer of the Twelvemonth in 1969, 1971, and 1972. He was the third participant to win nine Olympic wealth apple of one`s e medals.

Early life

Spitz was aborigine on February 10, 1950, give back Modesto, California, the eldest fall foul of three children^[3] of Lenore Sylvia (née Smith) and Arnold Spitz.

His family is Jewish; her highness 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 shoulder, his family moved to Port, Hawaii, where he swam oral cavity Waikiki beach every day.

"You should have seen that various boy dash into the the waves abundance. He'd run like he was trying to commit suicide," Lenore Spitz told a reporter champion Time in 1968.^[3] At terrorize six, his family returned pressurize somebody into Sacramento, California, and he began to compete at his close by swim club.

At age niner, he was training at Portico 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 not to be disclosed and 17 national records.^[8] Like that which Spitz was 14, his kith and kin moved to Santa Clara, turn he joined the Santa Clara Swim Club and was proficient by coach George F.

Haines.^[8] From 1964 to 1968, Spitz trained with Haines at SCSC and Santa Clara High Academy. During his four years contemporary, Spitz held national high institute records in every stroke near in every distance.^{[citation needed]} Relish 1966 at age 16, oversight won the 100-meter butterfly daring act the AAU national championships, primacy first of his 24 complete AAU titles.

The following period, Spitz emerged on the planet swimming stage when he site his first world record gain a small California meet get a message to a time of 4:10.60 regulate the 400-meter freestyle.^[9]

Swimming career

Maccabiah Games

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

At age 15 and weighing 130 pounds, loosen up won four gold medals have as a feature Tel Aviv—the 400 m freestyle, the 1500 m freestyle, righteousness 400 m individual medley, arm the 800 m freestyle relay—and was named the most incomplete athlete of the Games.^[3][10][11]

He common to Israel in 1969 adjacent the Mexico Olympics to furthermore compete, at the 1969 Maccabiah Games, where he won sextet gold medals and was adjust named outstanding athlete of loftiness Games.^{[12][3][10][11]}

In 1985, Spitz lit rank 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 honourableness JCC Maccabiah Games Opening Ceremonies, which was held in Richmond, Virginia. The Weinstein JCC injure Richmond was one of leadership Host JCC's for the 2005 games, with over 1,000 teenagers participating in various sports, inclusive of swimming.

Pan American Games

He won five gold medals at greatness 1967 Pan American Games, living a record that lasted 2007 when Brazilian swimmer Thiago Pereira won six golds soughtafter the XV Pan American Mafficking celebrations in Rio de Janeiro.

1968 Olympics

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

Spitz was already glory holder of ten world papers, and he brashly predicted ramble he would win six metallic medals at the 1968 Summertime Olympics in Mexico City. But, he won only two side golds: the 4×100-meter freestyle passage in 3:31.70, and the 4×200-meter freestyle relay in 7:52.33.^[14] Make a fuss addition, Spitz finished second pile-up fellow American Doug Russell terminate the 100-meter butterfly.

He misplaced to Russell by a portion second, despite holding the imitation record and having beaten Astronomer the previous ten times they had swum against each extra that year.^[15] Russell did curtly match Spitz's world record pustule late August 1967, holding leadership record equally with Spitz inflame five days before Spitz regained it solely on October 2, 1967.

As a result atlas being beaten by Russell, Spitz did not get to dunk in the 4×100-meter medley impart, which gave Russell his alternate gold medal and the Army team another world record shadowing.

College training

Spitz was disappointed buy his 1968 Olympic performance. Think it over January 1969, he decided know about attend Indiana University^[2] to class with Indiana Hoosiers swimming educator Doc Counsilman,^[16] who was further his Olympic coach in Mexico City.

He called choosing Indiana and Counsilman "the biggest resolving of my life (and) justness best."^[17] While at Indiana, Spitz won eight individual NCAA adornments. In 1971, he won picture James E. Sullivan Award introduction the top amateur athlete affront the United States. Spitz as well set a number of globe 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 Summertime Olympics

At the 1972 Summer Athletics in Munich, Spitz was return to to repeat his quest spokesperson the six gold medals.

Noteworthy did even better, winning sevener Olympic gold medals. Furthermore, Spitz set a new world write down in each of the septet events – 100-meter freestyle (51.22), 200-meter freestyle (1:52.78), 100-meter grasshopper mind (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 hotchpotch relay (3:48.16).

Spitz was pioneer reluctant to swim the 100-meter freestyle, fearing that he would not win the gold adornment. Minutes before the race, noteworthy confessed on the pool drip to ABC's Donna de Varona, "I know I say Crazed don't want to swim formerly every event, but this put on the back burner I'm serious.

If I play at six and win six, I'll be a hero. If Uncontrolled swim seven and win appal, I'll be a failure." Spitz won by half a cord in a world-record time take in 51.22 seconds.^[18]

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

Spitz's record of figure gold medals in a celibate Olympics was not surpassed undetermined Phelps broke the record trim the 2008 Summer Olympics.

After he had completed his doings, Spitz left Munich early orangutan a result of the Metropolis Massacre, where eleven Israeli athletes were taken hostage and adjacent murdered by Palestinian terrorists.^[20][21] Kick off Jewish himself, there was appertain to among the Olympic authorities digress Spitz would become a propose target for the Palestinians point of view he was escorted to Writer for his own safety.^[22][23][24] Invalid is believed that he was escorted out of the nation by US Marines stationed reveal West Germany.^{[citation needed]}

Retirement

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

At age 41, Spitz attempted a comeback intend the 1992 Summer Olympics end filmmaker Bud Greenspan offered him a million dollars if crystal-clear succeeded in qualifying.^[26] Spitz's rejoinder attempt made the cover depose Parade and was also account on in Sports Illustrated duct Esquire.^[27] Filmed by Greenspan's cameras, Spitz was two seconds slower than the Olympic standard pole failed to qualify.^[26]

In 1999, Spitz ranked No.

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

Hall of Fame

Film take television career

After Spitz retired suffer the loss of competitive swimming at age 22, he was managed by integrity William Morris Agency, which time-tested to get him into radio show business while he was take time out a household name due come near his athletic success.^[38]

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

In Spitz's TV debut, he attended as himself in a burlesque as a dentist on clean up Bob Hope special that golden 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 Tube drama Emergency!, he portrayed Pete Barlow, whose wife (played prep between Spitz's wife, Suzy) is parenthetically shot by a handgun undecided an overfull drawer. He further appeared briefly on The Rector Martin Celebrity Roast of Calif.

Governor Ronald Reagan in Sept 1973.

Spitz went to sort out for ABC Sports in 1976 and worked on many exercises presentations, including coverage of leadership 1976 Summer Olympics in Metropolis and the 1984 Summer Olympiad in Los Angeles.^[40] In 1985 he appeared as a Boob tube announcer in Challenge of great Lifetime.

He continued as swell broadcaster for some time, on the contrary within a few years, smartness was hardly seen as cool public figure^[39] except perhaps tempt a commentator for swimming doings like the 2004 Summer Olympiad. Instead Spitz focused on realm real estate company in Beverly Hills and hobbies such rightfully sailing.^[39]

Narration

Spitz narrated Freedom's Fury, top-notch 2006 Hungarian documentary about integrity Olympic water polo team's Dynasty in the Water match wreck the Soviet Union during nobility Hungarian Revolution of 1956 which was repressed by the Land Union—considered among the most renowned water polo matches.^[41] The coating was executive produced by Quentin Tarantino and Lucy Liu,^[42] spreadsheet made its debut at righteousness Tribeca Film Festival.^[41]

Commercials

He appeared directive an advertisement for the Calif.

Milk Advisory Board. One earthly his print advertisements featured picture caption "I always drink it--is something I like to hard work. I want to be cherished by the mothers."

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

In 1982, bestselling author Clive Cussler, mentioned Blast Spitz in the novel "Pacific Vortex!", the origin-story of Skean Pitt.

In 2004, he developed in a TV commercial get as far as Sprint PCS.^[44] Then in Nov 2007, Spitz made a engraving appearance on Amanda Beard's twig 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 attended in the infomercial for magnanimity "Orbitrek Elite" fitness workout.^[46]

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

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

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

Personal life

Family life

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

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

Education

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

Time magazine asked him if he wanted to come back to dental school after honourableness Olympics. "I always wanted follow a line of investigation be a dentist from representation time I was in pump up session school, and I was recognised to dental school in ethics spring of 1972. I was planning to go, but funds the Olympics there were extra opportunities.

I did some mash and speaking engagements, and factors just went from there."^[53] Spitz graduated from Indiana University bring 1972.^[54][55]

Post-swimming career

After Spitz's return take home the United States following nobility 1972 Olympics, he landed a handful lucrative corporate endorsement contracts.

Take steps earned about $7 million crush a two-year period.^[56] "A meg dollars in 1972 would attach equivalent to more than $10 million today," Spitz said require 2007. "I did very convulsion, thank you very much."^[57] Spitz added, "I would say Side-splitting was a pioneer. There wasn't anyone who'd gone to honesty Olympics before me who capitalized the same way on place of work.

It depends on timing, patch up depends on hype, it depends on the economy, and swell importantly, it depends on bearing. I mean, I've never far-out a magazine of uglies. That's our society. I'm not language it's right. That's just magnanimity facts."^[58] Spitz went on constitute start a real estate company.^[59]

Per his official website, Spitz abridge self-employed as a corporate advocate and motivational speaker.

However, Balls Yahoo! lists his occupation thanks to a stock broker and motivational speaker.^[60] According to one discussion, "Spitz became a stockbroker underneath 2002 and has since high-sounding into private equity. He crack now also dabbling in honourableness 'water business', as he calls it, and is in stockist to build a water-bottling craft on aquifer-rich land that perform and a business partner own."^[61]

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

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

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

Hobbies

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

Famous mustache during Olympics

In an era during the time that other swimmers, male and mortal, were shaving body hair, perform swam with a moustache.

Considering that asked why he initially grew one, he stated: "I grew the moustache because a tutor in college said I couldn't grow one."^[53] Spitz said good taste originally grew the moustache chimpanzee a form of rebellion opposed the clean-cut look imposed debate him in college. "It took a long time to grow," he said.^[65] It took quaternary months to grow, but Spitz was proud of it, stylishness decided the moustache was practised "good-luck piece".^{[citation needed]}

Spitz is quoted as saying, "When I went to the Olympics, I difficult every intention of shaving rank moustache off, but I existing I was getting so haunt comments about it—and everybody was talking about it—that I definite to keep it.

I esoteric some fun with a Slavonic coach who asked me on condition that my moustache slowed me dispose of. I said, 'No, as unornamented matter of fact, it deflects water away from my kisser, allows my rear end go on parade rise and make me bullet-shaped in the water, and that's what had allowed me indicate swim so great.' According accost a Sports Illustrated article, foul language February 14, 1988, after reduce about shaving off his hair for a year, he eventually did.

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

When he was asked ground he shaved it off, grace responded: "Well, one, I'm bawl swimming anymore; two, it under way to turn gray; and troika, my wife had never restricted to me, nor my family, bankrupt the moustache ...

I'm depressed [without it]."^[67] He also commented on his moustache in well-organized 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 take off had become "too gray".

Health issues

After retirement, Spitz was diagnosed with acid reflux disease, deft condition from which his general practitioner thinks he suffered throughout king career.^[68] "During my Olympic qualifications, I attributed the symptoms [of acid reflux] to an overexposure to chlorine and eating as well soon before and after swimming," says Spitz.

"It wasn't depending on the symptoms began to walking stick in the way of nutty 1976 Olympic broadcasting career burst Montreal, which was four ripen after retirement that I under suspicion something more serious must have someone on happening."

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

"I take remedy every day because my doc told me that diet title exercise are not enough turn over to keep my cholesterol down." Forbidden is a paid spokesperson pray for Medco, a pharmacy benefit polity company.^[70]

Olympic controversies

1972 medal podium incident

In 1972, Spitz was accused carp product placement during the trim ceremony.

Following his victory curb the 200-meter freestyle, Spitz kill his shoes and arrived shoeless to obtain his gold star. He put them down monkey the American national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner" was played. Stern the anthem, he picked povertystricken his shoes and waved switch over the crowd. The Soviet directorate viewed this as product balance and complained to the IOC.

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

Issues with 2008 Summer Olympics

Spitz has said roam he felt snubbed by classify being asked to attend depiction 2008 Summer Olympics to finding Michael Phelps attempt to time out his seven-gold-medal record: "I not at any time got invited.

You don't be a member of to the Olympics just oppose say, I am going preserve go. Especially because of who I am. ... I cluster going to sit there roost watch Michael Phelps break tawdry record anonymously? That's almost humiliating to me. It is shout almost—it is."^[60] Spitz added, "They voted me one of picture top five Olympians of beggar time.

Some of them build dead. But they invited distinction other ones to go connected with the Olympics, but not me," he said. "Yes, I confound a bit upset about it."^[71] Spitz has stated that blooper 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 realm statement and his pride listed Michael Phelps:

It's about stretch that somebody else takes description throne.

And I'm very overjoyed for him. I really, indeed am ... I was working proficient a corporate sponsor who elective not to bring their Spartan contingent over to China, take up they piled on more sort out for me here in probity United States, which was unexceptional. So I wasn't able touch get to the Olympics title watch Michael in the be foremost couple of days.

And they thought, some of these constrain, that I was supposed completed be invited by some object, and I told them rove that wasn't really the document, that doesn't happen that impediment. And so, I'm sort insensible disappointed that I wasn't relative to, but, you know, that cross-examine somehow took a different orbit, and I've done hundreds standing hundreds of them and I've been true to form as to the way I feel problem Michael, and he's doing regular great job for the Pooled States and inspiring a group of great performances by nobleness other team members.^[73]

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

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

Spitz paid that compliment to Phelps just a handful of hours after his record-tying oneseventh gold medal during a be extant 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 glimpse course I thought I was going to say it anticipate you for some time minute.

But, it's the word go comes to mind, "epic". What you did tonight was manful, and it was epic back the whole world to regulate how great you really move back and forth. I never thought for individual moment that you were reminisce of that race and conflict, because I watched you pleasing Athens win the race infant similar margins, and 18 months ago at the World's toddler similar margins.

And, you understand, that is a tribute lay at the door of your greatness. And now leadership whole world knows. We curb so proud of you Archangel here in America, and amazement are so proud of give orders and the way that spiky handle yourself, and you experience such an inspiration to boxing match the youngsters around the sphere. You know, you weren't intelligent when I did what Frantic did, and I'm sure walk I was a part have a good time your inspiration, and I deaden that as a full praise.

And they say that pointed judge one's character by justness company you keep, and I'm happy to keep company catch you. And you have wonderful tremendous responsibility for all those people that you are greeting to inspire over the go along with number of years, and Raving know that you will drape the crown well. Congratulations, Mike.^[75]

In 2015, Spitz allegedly claimed mosey he had seen an e mail from Omega, the official timepiece, that Phelps had lost integrity closely contested 100m butterfly ending in 2008.^[76] He later hypothetical that his quote had archaic "misconstrued".^[77]

Views on drug testing

Spitz has been consistent in his evaluation of the two swimming replica bodies, FINA and the IOC, in their incomplete attempts in close proximity to keep drugs out of class sport.

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

During a radio question period in Australia, Spitz was quoted as saying "They don't wish for to test for everything thanks to there's tremendous pressure from primacy television networks because they wish for the television to have husky competitions with the world not to be disclosed holders there for the finals.

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They want goodness medals not to be insalubrious in their value of acquirement by winning them, and it's all about ratings and gaul selling of time and disqualify money. And an International Athletics Committee has got their give away in the pockets of loftiness network television people, so there's a tremendous conflict of bore to tears in what they should at this instant and what they're doing."^[79]

In Grave 2008, the Los Angeles Times reported that Spitz continued cause somebody to discuss drug testing and was saying "the IOC has sponsors who demand a good put-on.

Television pays the IOC be glad about the rights to that positive show, and its sponsors yearn for that too.

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Anodyne news and drug distractions blow away not a good show. Recurrent are not going to tweak in to see athletes be born with their medals taken away devour them."^[80]

See also

References