Athletes - Mark Spitz

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	Athletes - Mark Spitz

Mark Andrew Spitz (born February 10, 1950, Modesto, California) is a Jewish American swimmer. He was born in California, to Arnold and Lenore Spitz. He holds the record for most gold medals won in a single Olympics (seven), which he set at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany (his 7th was won on September 4).

In 1968, Mark Spitz participated in his first Olympic Games in Mexico City. Together with his teammates, Spitz won two titles: the 4 x 100 m freestyle and the 4 x 200 m freestyle relays. In addition, Spitz finished second in the 100 m butterfly and third in the 100 m freestyle. In spite of the successes, Spitz was disappointed, as he had announced a bid for six gold medals, after he had accomplished that feat at the 1967 Pan American Games.

Four years later, in Munich, Spitz came back. In West Germany, he won seven Olympic gold medals, a feat yet unequalled by any other Olympic athlete. Even more remarkably, 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 medley). Spitz's accomplishments at Munich were marred 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.

Still only aged 22, Spitz retired from swimming after the Munich Games. His management tried to get him into television while his name was still hot. In 1973 and 1974, Spitz was booked for appearances on The Tonight Show, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour and the Dean Martin Show, among others, but clearly uncomfortable, quickly ended his foray into show business. However, at age 41, Spitz attempted to make a comeback in an attempt to qualify for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, after film maker Bud Greenspan 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.

Spitz attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. In 1971, he won the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States.

Personal bests

100 m freestyle: 51.22 (1972, World record)
200 m freestyle: 1:52.78 (1972, World record)
100 m butterfly: 54.27 (1972, World record)
200 m butterfly: 2:00.70 (1972, World record)
Relays:
*4×100 m freestyle: 3:26.42 (1972, World record)
*4×200 m freestyle: 7:35.78 (1972, World record)
*4×100 m medley: 3:48.16 (1972, World record)

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Athletes - Mark Spitz

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