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'''Mark Andrew Spitz''' (born Friday, ], ]) is a ] ] ]. '''Mark Andrew Spitz''' (born Friday, ], ], in ], ]) is a ] ] ].


He holds the record for most ]s won in a single ] (seven), which he set at the ] in ], ]. He holds the record for most ]s won in a single ] (seven), which he set at the ] in ], ].
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As of 2007, he is the only person ever to win the gold medal in every single event in which he entered that year, and created a new world record in every one of those events as well. As of 2007, he is the only person ever to win the gold medal in every single event in which he entered that year, and created a new world record in every one of those events as well.


Between 1965 and 1972, Spitz won 9 Olympic gold medals, 1 silver, and 1 bronze; 5 Pan American golds; 31 National U.S. Amateur Athletic Union titles; and 8 U.S. National Collegiate
==Biography==
Athletic Association Championships. During those years, he set 33 world records.
Spitz was born in ], ]. When he was two years old, his family moved to ], where he learned to swim. At age six his family returned to ], and he began to compete at his local swim club. At age nine, he was training at Arden Hills Swim Club in Sacramento with Sherm Chavoor, the swimming coach who mentored Spitz and six other Olympic medal winners. At age nine, Spitz was faced with a dilemma. At that time he was attending Hebrew school. He came to the point where his swimming lessons were conflicting with Hebrew school. For him and his father the decision to continue swimming was easy. Spitz continued to show his tremendous talents by the early age of 10, holding 17 national age-group and one world record. At 14, the family moved to ] so Spitz could train with George Haines of the Santa Clara Swim Club. At 16, he won the 100 meter ] at the National ] Championships, the first of his 24 AAU titles. The next year, 1967, he won five gold medals at the ] in ].


==Swimming career==
⚫ Holder of 10 world records already, Spitz predicted brashly he would win six golds at the ] in ]. However, he only won two team golds: the 4 x 100 meter ] and the 4 x 200 meter freestyle relays. In addition, Spitz finished second in the 100 m ] and third in the 100 m freestyle.
When he was two years old, his family moved to ], where he learned to swim. At age six his family returned to ], and he began to compete at his local swim club. At age nine, he was training at ] Swim Club] in Sacramento with Sherm Chavoor, the swimming coach who mentored Spitz and six other Olympic medal winners.


At age nine, Spitz was faced with a dilemma. At that time he was attending Hebrew school. He came to the point where his swimming lessons were conflicting with Hebrew school. For him and his father the decision to continue swimming was easy.
⚫ Disappointed in his Olympic performance, Spitz entered ] to train with legendary coach ], who was also his coach in Mexico City. At Indiana from 1968-72, he was a pre-dental student, member of ] Fraternity and won eight individual NCAA titles. In 1971, he won the ] as the top amateur athlete in the United States. He was named World Swimmer of the Year in 1969, 1971 and 1972.


Spitz continued to show his tremendous talents by the early age of 10, holding 17 national age-group and one world record. At 14, the family moved to ] so Spitz could train with George Haines of the Santa Clara Swim Club.
⚫ At the ] in ] (]), Spitz was back to maintain his bid for the six gold medals. He did even more, winning seven Olympic gold medals, a feat still unequalled by any other athlete in a single Olympiad. Further, Spitz set a new world record in each of the seven events (the 100 m freestyle, 200 m freestyle, 100 m butterfly, 200 m butterfly, 4 x 100 m freestyle, 4 x 200 m freestyle and the 4 x 100 m ]).


At 16, he won the 100 meter ] at the National ] Championships, the first of his 24 AAU titles.
⚫ Spitz's accomplishments at Munich were overshadowed by the ] attack, known as the ], that claimed the lives of 11 Israeli athletes (Spitz had previously spent time in Israel competing in the ]). In the immediate aftermath, security personnel whisked Spitz away from Munich.

⚫ Disappointed in his 1968 Olympic performance, Spitz entered ] to train with legendary coach ], who was also his coach in Mexico City. At Indiana from ]-72, he was a pre-dental student, member of ] Fraternity, and won 8 individual NCAA titles. In ], he won the ] as the top amateur athlete in the United States.

He was named World Swimmer of the Year in 1969, 1971 and 1972.

===Pan American Games===

In 1967, he won five gold medals at the ] in ].

===Olympics===

⚫ Holder of 10 world records already, Spitz predicted brashly he would win 6 golds at the ] in ]. However, he only won two team golds: the 4 x 100 meter ], and the 4 x 200 meter freestyle relays. In addition, Spitz finished 2nd in the 100 m ] and 3rd in the 100 m freestyle.

⚫ At the ] in ] (]), Spitz was back to maintain his bid for the 6 gold medals. He did even more, winning 7 Olympic gold medals, a feat still unequalled by any other athlete in a single Olympiad. Further, Spitz set a new world record in each of the 7 events (the 100 m freestyle, 200 m freestyle, 100 m butterfly, 200 m butterfly, 4 x 100 m freestyle, 4 x 200 m freestyle and the 4 x 100 m ]).

⚫ Spitz's accomplishments at Munich were overshadowed by the ] attack, known as the ], that claimed the lives of 11 Israeli athletes (Spitz had previously spent time in Israel competing in the ]). In the immediate aftermath, security personnel whisked Spitz away from Munich.
] ]


===Maccabiah Games===
⚫ Still only aged 22, Spitz retired from swimming after the Munich Games. His management tried to get him into show business while his name was still hot. In 1973 and 1974, Spitz appeared on such ] series as '']'', '']'' and '']'' as paramedic Pete Barlow. The ] considered hiring him as an Oscars host (despite the fact he hadn't made any films), and there was even talk Spitz might become the next ] (the role went to ] instead). But Spitz was clearly uncomfortable on camera, and he quickly ended his foray into show business.
The ] ] was his first international competition. At the age of 15, in Tel Aviv Spitz won four gold medals and was named the most outstanding athlete.

He returned to Israel in ], following the Mexico Olympics, to again compete in the Maccabiah. This time he won six gold medals. He was also named outstanding athlete of the Games.

In ] Spitz opened the games lighting a torch along with three children of Israeli Olympians murdered at the Munich Olympics.

In ], he was chosen to be the flag bearer for the U.S. Delegation to the 17th Maccabiah Games.

===Retirement & attempted comeback===
⚫ Still only aged 22, Spitz retired from swimming after the Munich Games. His management tried to get him into show business while his name was still hot. In 1973 and 1974, Spitz appeared on such ] series as '']'', '']'' and '']'' as paramedic Pete Barlow. The ] considered hiring him as an ] host (despite the fact he hadn't made any films), and there was even talk Spitz might become the next ] (the role went to ] instead). But Spitz was clearly uncomfortable on camera, and he quickly ended his foray into show business.


At age 41, Spitz attempted to make a comeback in an attempt to qualify for the ], after film maker ] had offered to pay him a million dollars if he succeeded in qualifying. Filmed by Greenspan's cameras, Spitz failed to beat the qualifying limit, despite the fact his times were nearly as good (and in some cases better) than his medal-winning turns 20 years earlier.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} At age 41, Spitz attempted to make a comeback in an attempt to qualify for the ], after film maker ] offered to pay him a million dollars if he succeeded in qualifying. Filmed by Greenspan's cameras, Spitz failed to beat the qualifying limit, despite the fact his times were nearly as good (and in some cases better) than his medal-winning turns 20 years earlier.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}


==Miscellaneous==
In 2005, Mark Spitz was chosen to be the flag bearer for the US Delegation to the 17th ].


Spitz and his wife, Suzy (née Weiner), have been married since ], and have two sons, Matthew (b. 1981) and Justin (b. 1991). Spitz and his wife, Suzy (née Weiner), have been married since ], and have two sons, Matthew (b. 1981) and Justin (b. 1991).

Revision as of 07:06, 11 April 2007

Mark Spitz
Medal record
Olympic Games
Representing  United States
Men’s swimming
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico City 4x100 m freestyle relay
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico City 4x200 m freestyle relay
Silver medal – second place 1968 Mexico City 100 m butterfly
Bronze medal – third place 1968 Mexico City 100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1972 Munich 100 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 1972 Munich 100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1972 Munich 200 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 1972 Munich 200 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1972 Munich 4x100 m freestyle relay
Gold medal – first place 1972 Munich 4x100 m medley relay
Gold medal – first place 1972 Munich 4x200 m freestyle relay
Mark Spitz
Medal record
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1967 Winnipeg Swimming
Gold medal – first place 1967 Winnipeg Swimming
Gold medal – first place 1967 Winnipeg Swimming
Gold medal – first place 1967 Winnipeg Swimming
Gold medal – first place 1967 Winnipeg Swimming
Mark Spitz
Medal record
Maccabiah Games
Gold medal – first place 1965 Israel Swimming
Gold medal – first place 1965 Israel Swimming
Gold medal – first place 1965 Israel Swimming
Gold medal – first place 1965 Israel Swimming
Gold medal – first place 1969 Israel Swimming
Gold medal – first place 1969 Israel Swimming
Gold medal – first place 1969 Israel Swimming
Gold medal – first place 1969 Israel Swimming
Gold medal – first place 1969 Israel Swimming
Gold medal – first place 1969 Israel Swimming

Mark Andrew Spitz (born Friday, February 10, 1950, in Modesto, California) is a Jewish American swimmer.

He holds the record for most gold medals won in a single Olympic Games (seven), which he set at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany.

As of 2007, he is the only person ever to win the gold medal in every single event in which he entered that year, and created a new world record in every one of those events as well.

Between 1965 and 1972, Spitz won 9 Olympic gold medals, 1 silver, and 1 bronze; 5 Pan American golds; 31 National U.S. Amateur Athletic Union titles; and 8 U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships. During those years, he set 33 world records.

Swimming career

When he was two years old, his family moved to Hawaii, where he learned to swim. 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 Sherm Chavoor, the swimming coach who mentored Spitz and six other Olympic medal winners.

At age nine, Spitz was faced with a dilemma. At that time he was attending Hebrew school. He came to the point where his swimming lessons were conflicting with Hebrew school. For him and his father the decision to continue swimming was easy.

Spitz continued to show his tremendous talents by the early age of 10, holding 17 national age-group and one world record. At 14, the family moved to Santa Clara so Spitz could train with George Haines of the Santa Clara Swim Club.

At 16, he won the 100 meter butterfly at the National AAU Championships, the first of his 24 AAU titles.

Disappointed in his 1968 Olympic performance, Spitz entered Indiana University to train with legendary coach Doc Counsilman, who was also his coach in Mexico City. At Indiana from 1968-72, he was a pre-dental student, member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, and won 8 individual NCAA titles. In 1971, he won the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States.

He was named World Swimmer of the Year in 1969, 1971 and 1972.

Pan American Games

In 1967, he won five gold medals at the Pan-American Games in Winnipeg.

Olympics

Holder of 10 world records already, Spitz predicted brashly he would win 6 golds at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. However, he only won two team golds: the 4 x 100 meter freestyle, and the 4 x 200 meter freestyle relays. In addition, Spitz finished 2nd in the 100 m butterfly and 3rd in the 100 m freestyle.

At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich (West Germany), Spitz was back to maintain his bid for the 6 gold medals. He did even more, winning 7 Olympic gold medals, a feat still unequalled by any other athlete in a single Olympiad. Further, Spitz set a new world record in each of the 7 events (the 100 m freestyle, 200 m freestyle, 100 m butterfly, 200 m butterfly, 4 x 100 m freestyle, 4 x 200 m freestyle and the 4 x 100 m medley).

Spitz's accomplishments at Munich were overshadowed by the Palestinian terrorism attack, known as the Munich Massacre, that claimed the lives of 11 Israeli athletes (Spitz had previously spent time in Israel competing in the Maccabiah Games). In the immediate aftermath, security personnel whisked Spitz away from Munich.

File:MarkSpitz.jpg
Mark Spitz

Maccabiah Games

The 1965 Maccabiah Games was his first international competition. At the age of 15, in Tel Aviv Spitz won four gold medals and was named the most outstanding athlete.

He returned to Israel in 1969, following the Mexico Olympics, to again compete in the Maccabiah. This time he won six gold medals. He was also named outstanding athlete of the Games.

In 1985 Spitz opened the games lighting a torch along with three children of Israeli Olympians murdered at the Munich Olympics.

In 2005, he was chosen to be the flag bearer for the U.S. Delegation to the 17th Maccabiah Games.

Retirement & attempted comeback

Still only aged 22, Spitz retired from swimming after the Munich Games. His management tried to get him into show business while his name was still hot. In 1973 and 1974, Spitz appeared on such TV series as The Tonight Show, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour and Emergency! as paramedic Pete Barlow. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences considered hiring him as an Oscars host (despite the fact he hadn't made any films), and there was even talk Spitz might become the next James Bond (the role went to Roger Moore instead). But Spitz was clearly uncomfortable on camera, and he quickly ended his foray into show business.

At age 41, Spitz attempted to make a comeback in an attempt to qualify for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, after film maker Bud Greenspan offered to pay him a million dollars if he succeeded in qualifying. Filmed by Greenspan's cameras, Spitz failed to beat the qualifying limit, despite the fact his times were nearly as good (and in some cases better) than his medal-winning turns 20 years earlier.

Miscellaneous

Spitz and his wife, Suzy (née Weiner), have been married since 1973, and have two sons, Matthew (b. 1981) and Justin (b. 1991).

See also

External links

Olympic champions in men's 100 m freestyle
100 yards
100 metres
Intercalated Games
Olympic champions in men's 200 m freestyle
220 yards
200 metres
Olympic champions in men's 100 m butterfly
Olympic champions in men's 200 m butterfly
Olympic champions in men's 4 × 200 m freestyle relay
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