View source for Mark Spitz

{{Short description|American Olympic swimmer (born 1950)}}
{{about|the swimmer|the writer|Marc Spitz}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox swimmer
| name           = Mark Spitz
| image          = Mark Spitz.jpg
| image_size     = 220
| alt            = 
| caption        = Mark Spitz in December 2012
| fullname       = Mark Andrew Spitz
| nicknames      = "Mark the Shark"
| national_team  = {{USA}}
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1950|2|10|mf=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Modesto, California]], U.S.
| death_date     = 
| death_place    = 
| height         = 6 ft 0 in
| weight         = 161 lb 73Kg
| strokes        = [[Butterfly swimming|Butterfly]], [[freestyle swimming|freestyle]]
| club           = Arden Hills Swim Club<br/>[[Santa Clara Swim Club]]
| collegeteam    = [[Indiana Hoosiers|Indiana University]]
| coach          =[[George Haines]] (Santa Clara)<br>[[Sherm Chavoor]] (Arden Hills)<br>[[Doc Counsilman]] (Indiana)
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}}}}
{{MedalCount
|[[Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]|9|1|1
|[[Pan American Games]]|5|0|0
|[[Maccabiah Games]]|10|0|0
|'''Total'''|'''24'''|'''1'''|'''1'''
}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Swimming at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
[[File:Olympic rings.svg|center|80px]]
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 1968 Summer Olympics|1968 Mexico City]] | [[Swimming at the 1968 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1968 Mexico City | [[Swimming at the 1968 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay|4×200 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics|1972 Munich]] | [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre butterfly|100 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1972 Munich | [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre freestyle|100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1972 Munich | [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metre butterfly|200 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1972 Munich | [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metre freestyle|200 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1972 Munich | [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1972 Munich | [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1972 Munich | [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay|4×200 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 1968 Mexico City | [[Swimming at the 1968 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre butterfly|100 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 1968 Mexico City | [[Swimming at the 1968 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre freestyle|100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1967 Pan American Games|1967 Winnipeg]]|[[Swimming at the 1967 Pan American Games|100 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1967 Winnipeg | [[Swimming at the 1967 Pan American Games|200 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1967 Winnipeg | [[Swimming at the 1967 Pan American Games|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1967 Winnipeg | [[Swimming at the 1967 Pan American Games|4×200 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1967 Winnipeg | [[Swimming at the 1967 Pan American Games|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Maccabiah Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1965 Maccabiah Games|1965 Israel]] | Swimming}}
{{MedalGold | 1965 Israel|Swimming}}
{{MedalGold | 1965 Israel|Swimming}}
{{MedalGold | 1965 Israel|Swimming}}
{{MedalGold | [[1969 Maccabiah Games|1969 Israel]] | Swimming}}
{{MedalGold | 1969 Israel|Swimming}}
{{MedalGold | 1969 Israel|Swimming}}
{{MedalGold | 1969 Israel|Swimming}}
{{MedalGold | 1969 Israel|Swimming}}
{{MedalGold | 1969 Israel|Swimming}}
}}

'''Mark Andrew Spitz''' (born February 10, 1950) is an American former competitive swimmer and nine-time Olympic champion.  He was the [[Lists of Olympic medalists#Medalist with most medals by Olympiad|most successful]] athlete at the [[1972 Summer Olympics]] in [[Munich]], winning [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics|seven gold medals]], each in world-record time. This achievement set a record that lasted for 36 years, until it was surpassed by fellow American [[Michael Phelps]], who won eight golds at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in [[Beijing]]. Phelps, like Spitz, set seven world records.

Between 1968 and 1972, Spitz won nine Olympic golds, a silver, and a bronze, in addition to five [[Pan American Games|Pan American]] golds, 31 [[Amateur Athletic Union]] (AAU) titles, and eight [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) titles. During those years he set 35 world records, two of which were in trials and unofficial.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishsports.net/BioPages/MarkSpitz.htm |title=International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame |publisher=Jewishsports.net |date=February 10, 1950 |access-date=January 30, 2011}}</ref><ref name="IUspitz">{{cite web |url=http://www.indiana.edu/~radiotv/wtiu/doc/people_spitz.html |title=Mark Spitz |work=Doc Counsilman: Making Waves |publisher=Indiana University |access-date=January 30, 2011 |archive-date=June 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602023542/http://www.indiana.edu/~radiotv/wtiu/doc/people_spitz.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[Swimming World Magazine]]'' named him [[List of Swimming World Swimmers of the Year|World Swimmer of the Year]] in 1969, 1971, and 1972. He was the third athlete to win [[List of multiple Olympic gold medalists|nine Olympic gold medals]].

==Early life==
Spitz was born on February 10, 1950, in [[Modesto, California]], the eldest of three children<ref name="JVL-Spitz-bio">{{cite web|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Spitz.html |title=Mark Spitz |publisher=Jewish Virtual Library |access-date=June 25, 2024}}</ref> of Lenore Sylvia ({{nee}} Smith) and Arnold Spitz. His family is [[Jewish]]; his father's family was from Hungary,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.geni.com/people/Nathan-Spitz/6000000016836529188 | title=Nathan Spitz | date=May 4, 2022 }}</ref> and his mother's, originally surnamed Sklotkovick, was from Russia.<ref name="transcripts.cnn.com">{{cite news| url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1207/14/pmt.01.html | work=CNN | title=Interview with Mark Spitz|date=July 14, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Foster, Richard J. |title=Mark Spitz: The Extraordinary Life of an Olympic Champion |url=https://archive.org/details/markspitzextraor00fost_0 |url-access=registration |date=2008 |publisher=Santa Monica Press |isbn=978-1-59580-999-5 |page=[https://archive.org/details/markspitzextraor00fost_0/page/15 15]}}</ref><ref>Lajos, Szabó (January 2010) [http://www.kaleidoscopehistory.hu/index.php?subpage=cikk&cikkid=29 What are the reasons for the success of so many Hungarian Jewish Athletes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214123004/http://www.kaleidoscopehistory.hu/index.php?subpage=cikk&cikkid=29 |date=December 14, 2018 }}. kaleidoscopehistory.hu</ref> When he was two years old, his 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'' in 1968.<ref name="JVL-Spitz-bio"/> When he was six, the 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 six other Olympic medal winners.<ref name=Chavoor>Chavoor, Sherm, with Introduction by Mark Spitz, ''The 50-meter Jungle'', (1973) Coward, McCann, Geoghegan, Inc., Longman Canada Limited Publishers, Toronto, Library of Congress 73-78763,  pg. 30-40</ref>

At 10, Spitz held one world age-group record and 17 national records.<ref name="expectations">{{cite web|last=Roberts|first=M. B.|title=Spitz lived up to enormous expectations|work=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00016480.html|access-date=September 25, 2016}}</ref> When Spitz was 14, his family moved to [[Santa Clara, California|Santa Clara]], where he joined the [[Santa Clara Swim Club]] and was trained by coach [[George F. Haines]].<ref name="expectations"/> From 1964 to 1968, Spitz trained with Haines at SCSC and [[Santa Clara High School (Santa Clara, California)|Santa Clara High School]]. During his four years there, Spitz held national high school records in every stroke and in every distance.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} In 1966 at age 16, he won the 100-meter butterfly at the AAU national championships, the first of his 24 total AAU titles. The following year, Spitz emerged on the world swimming stage when he set his first world record at a small California meet with a time of 4:10.60 in the 400-meter freestyle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.santaclaraswimclub.org/alumni/spitzUpdate.html |title=Santa Clara Swim Club. Alumni: Spitz |publisher=Santaclaraswimclub.org |date=November 14, 2007 |access-date=January 30, 2011}}</ref>

==Swimming career==
===Maccabiah Games===
Spitz swam in his first international competition at the [[1965 Maccabiah Games|1965]] [[Maccabiah Games]] in Israel. At age 15 and weighing 130 pounds, he won four gold medals in Tel Aviv—the 400 m freestyle, the 1500 m freestyle, the 400 m individual medley, and the 800 m freestyle relay—and was named the most outstanding athlete of the Games.<ref name="JVL-Spitz-bio"/><ref name="The New York Times">{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/08/25/101564576.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812010402/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/08/25/101564576.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 12, 2022|title=U.S. WINS 4 TESTS IN ISRAELI GAMES; Spitz Stars as Maccabiah Squad Dominates Swim|work=The New York Times }}</ref><ref name="timesmachine.nytimes.com">{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/08/28/96716312.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602172522/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/08/28/96716312.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 2, 2023|title=SPITZ, U.S., GAINS 4TH GOLD MEDAL; 15-Year-Old Swimmer Wins 1,500 at Tel Aviv|work=The New York Times }}</ref>

He returned to Israel in 1969 following the Mexico Olympics to again compete, at the [[1969 Maccabiah Games]], where he won six gold medals and was again named outstanding athlete of the Games.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Slater |first1=Elinor |last2=Slater |first2=Robert |year=1996 |title=Great Jewish Men |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T91sokr_nJYC |location=Middle Village, N.Y. |publisher=J. David |isbn=978-0-8246-0381-6 |oclc=32201895}}</ref><ref name="JVL-Spitz-bio"/><ref name="The New York Times"/><ref name="timesmachine.nytimes.com"/>

In 1985, Spitz lit the torch to open the [[1985 Maccabiah Games]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Jews in Sports: The Maccabiah Games |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Maccabiah.html |publisher=Jewish Virtual Library |access-date=20 January 2023}}</ref>

In 2005, he was a member of the U.S. delegation at the [[2005 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===
He won five gold medals at the [[1967 Pan American Games]], 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===
{{See also|Swimming at the 1968 Summer Olympics|1968 Summer Olympics}}
{{MedalTableTop|name=no|Header=Olympic medal record|Mark Spitz 1969 Panini card.jpg|220px|Spitz c. 1968}}
{{MedalSport | [[1968 Summer Olympics|1968 Mexico City]]}}
{{MedalCountry|the USA}}
{{MedalGold| [[Swimming at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle relay]] |3:31.7}}
{{MedalGold| [[Swimming at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay|4×200 m freestyle relay]] |7:52.3}}
{{MedalSilver| [[Swimming at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metre butterfly|100 m butterfly]] |56.40}}
{{MedalBronze| [[Swimming at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metre freestyle|100 m freestyle]] |53.00}}
{{MedalBottom}}

Spitz was already the holder of ten world records, and he brashly predicted that he would win six gold medals 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.<ref name=sroprofile>[https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sp/mark-spitz-1.html Mark Spitz] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080730011411/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sp/mark-spitz-1.html |date=July 30, 2008 }}. sports-reference.com</ref>  In addition, Spitz finished second to fellow American [[Doug Russell (swimmer)|Doug Russell]] in the 100-meter butterfly. He lost to 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.<ref>He also won a bronze medal in the 100-meter freestyle in 53.00 seconds at the same games. [http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/profiles/bio_uk.asp?PAR_I_ID=20272 International Olympic Committee – Athletes<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Russell did briefly match Spitz's world record in late August 1967, holding the 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 performance.

===College training===
Spitz was disappointed in his 1968 Olympic performance. In January 1969, he decided to attend [[Indiana University]]<ref name="IUspitz"/> to train with [[Indiana Hoosiers]] swimming coach [[Doc Counsilman]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiana.edu/~ocmhptst/051603/text/doc.html |title=Indiana University Archives |publisher=Indiana.edu |date=May 16, 2003 |access-date=January 30, 2011}}</ref> who was also his Olympic coach in [[Mexico City]]. He called choosing Indiana and Counsilman "the biggest decision of my life (and) the best."<ref name="Glory of Old IU 220">{{cite book|last1=Hammel|first1=Bob|last2=Klingelhoffer|first2=Kit|title=The Glory of Old Iu: 100 Years of Indiana Athletics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8uobLCQZlhAC|year=1999|publisher=Sports Publishing LLC|isbn=1-58261-068-1|page=156}}</ref> While at Indiana, Spitz won eight individual [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|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 [[United States Olympic Trials (swimming)|U.S. Olympic Swim Trials]] held in Chicago's [[Portage Park (Chicago)|Portage Park]] in 1972.

He was nicknamed "Mark the Shark" by his teammates.<ref name=Chavoor/>

===1972 Olympics===
{{See also|Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics|1972 Summer Olympics}}
{{MedalTableTop|name=no|Header=Olympic medal record|Mark Spitz 1972.jpg|220px|Spitz at the 1972 Olympics}}
{{MedalSport | [[1972 Summer Olympics|1972 Munich]]}}
{{MedalCountry|the USA}}
{{MedalGold| [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metre butterfly|200 m butterfly]] |[[World record progression 200 metres butterfly|2:00.70 (WR)]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle relay]] |[[World record progression 4 × 100 metres freestyle relay|3:26.42 (WR)]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metre freestyle|200 m freestyle]] |[[World record progression 200 metres freestyle|1:52.78 (WR)]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metre butterfly|100 m butterfly]] |[[World record progression 100 metres butterfly|54.27 (WR)]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay|4×200 m freestyle relay]] |[[World record progression 4 × 200 metres freestyle relay|7:35.78 (WR)]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metre freestyle|100 m freestyle]] |[[World record progression 100 metres freestyle|51.22 (WR)]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 x 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley relay]] |[[World record progression 4 × 100 metres medley relay|3:48.16 (WR)]]}}
{{MedalBottom}}

At the [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics|1972 Summer Olympics]] in [[Munich]], Spitz was back to repeat his quest for the six gold medals. He did even better, winning seven Olympic gold medals. Furthermore, Spitz set a new world record in each of the seven events – 100-meter freestyle (51.22), 200-meter freestyle (1:52.78), 100-meter butterfly (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 medley relay (3:48.16). Spitz was originally reluctant to swim the 100-meter freestyle, fearing that he would not win the gold medal. Minutes before the race, he confessed on the pool deck to [[American Broadcasting Company|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 time of 51.22 seconds.<ref>Moore, K. Spitz's mark of seven world records in one Olympic meet was equaled by [[Michael Phelps]] in 2008. (This was because Phelps's 100-meter butterfly win fell short of the world mark). [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1068953/2/index.htm "Bionic Man."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820175221/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1068953/2/index.htm |date=August 20, 2008 }} Sports Illustrated. October 23, 1989. Retrieved August 13, 2008.</ref>
[[File:MarkSpitz1972Jacket.jpg|thumb|Jacket worn by Mark Spitz during the 1972 Summer Olympics.]]

Spitz is one of seven Olympians (four of them swimmers) to win [[List of multiple Olympic gold medalists|nine or more career gold medals]]: [[Larisa Latynina]], [[Paavo Nurmi]], [[Carl Lewis]], [[Katie Ledecky]], and [[Caeleb Dressel]] also have nine;<ref>{{cite book |title= The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition |last= Wallechinsky |first= David |author2=Jaime Loucky |year= 2008 |publisher=[[Aurum Press]] |isbn= 978-1-84513-330-6 |page= 702}}</ref> only Michael Phelps has won more, with 23. Spitz's [[List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games|record]] of seven gold medals in a single Olympics was not surpassed until Phelps broke the record at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]].

After he had completed his events, Spitz left Munich early as a result of the [[Munich Massacre]], where eleven Israeli athletes were taken hostage and later murdered by Palestinian terrorists.<ref name="sports-reference1">{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/la/shaul-ladany-1.html |title=Shaul Ladany |access-date=February 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207054939/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/la/shaul-ladany-1.html |archive-date=February 7, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t0KzECrIQDQC&pg=PA161|title=Jews and the Olympic Games: The Clash Between Sport and Politics – With a Complete Review of Jewish Olympic Medalists |author=Taylor, Paul |publisher=Sussex Academic Press |year=2004 |isbn=9781903900888 }}</ref> Being Jewish himself, there was concern among the Olympic authorities that Spitz would become a likely target for the Palestinians and he was escorted to London for his own safety, briefly with an escort of U.S. Marines.<ref name="google1">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bKZa91YO_4YC&pg=PT26|title=One Day in September: The Full Story of the 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre and the Israeli Revenge Operation "Wrath of God" |author=Reeve, Simon  |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Inc. |year=2011 |isbn=9781611450354 }}</ref><ref name="google3">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FsgDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA104|author= Moore, Kenny |title=Leading Men|publisher=Runner's World |date=April 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LT2q2tSuIO8C&pg=PA131|title=Making Other Plans: A Memoir |author=MacKin, Tom  |publisher=Author House |year=2009|isbn=978-1452071510 }}</ref>

===Retirement===

Following the Munich Olympics, Spitz retired from competition even though he was only 22 years old.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/news/mark-spitz-i-m-just-regular-guy-who-achieved-olympic-t100820|title=Mark Spitz: I'm 'just a regular guy' who achieved Olympic swimming glory|website=TODAY.com|date=July 14, 2016 }}</ref>

At age 41, Spitz attempted a comeback for the [[1992 Summer Olympics]] after filmmaker [[Bud Greenspan]] offered him a million dollars if he succeeded in qualifying.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/thorpe-comeback-inspiring-spitz-20120905-25dr3.html|title=Thorpe comeback inspiring: Spitz|first=Rob|last=Forsaith|date=September 5, 2012|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> Spitz's comeback attempt made the cover of ''Parade'' and was also reported on in ''Sports Illustrated'' and ''Esquire''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-07-19-sp-4669-story.html|title=COMMENTARY : Spitz's Comeback Sinks, Although He Is One Healthy 42-Year-Old|date=July 19, 1992|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Filmed by Greenspan's cameras, Spitz was two seconds slower than the Olympic standard and failed to qualify.<ref name="auto"/>

In 1999, Spitz ranked No. 33 on ''[[ESPN]] SportsCentury 50 Greatest Athletes'', the only aquatic athlete to make the list.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.topendsports.com/world/lists/greatest-all-time/athletes-espn-century.htm|title=Top Athletes List of the 20th Century|website=www.topendsports.com}}</ref>

==Hall of Fame==
* [[International Swimming Hall of Fame]], Inducted 1977.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ishof.org/mark-spitz--%28usa%29.html |title=Mark Spitz |website=ISHOF.org |publisher=[[International Swimming Hall of Fame]] |access-date=February 15, 2015 |archive-date=February 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216031951/http://www.ishof.org/mark-spitz--%28usa%29.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]], Inducted 1979.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishsports.net/BioPages/MarkSpitz.htm |title=Mark Spitz |publisher=Jewishsports.net |date=February 10, 1950 |access-date=January 30, 2011}}</ref>
* [[United States Olympic Hall of Fame]], Inducted 1983.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usolympichalloffame.com/?page_id=46 |title=Hof Polls, Team USA |publisher=U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame |date=July 1, 2009 |access-date=January 30, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*[[Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]] Inducted 1990.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scjewishsportshof.com/spitz.html|title=Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Home|website=scjewishsportshof.com|access-date=July 31, 2020|archive-date=January 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128193729/https://scjewishsportshof.com/spitz.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* San Jose Sports Hall of Fame, inducted Wednesday, November 14, 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sjsa.org/hall_of_fame/bios_07.asp#mspitz |title=San Jose Sports Authority – [ Hall of Fame ] |publisher=Sjsa.org |access-date=January 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101165447/http://sjsa.org/hall_of_fame/bios_07.asp#mspitz |archive-date=November 1, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.santaclaraswimclub.org/alumni/spitzUpdate.html |title=Mark Spitz Update |publisher=Santa Clara Swim Club |date=November 14, 2007 |access-date=January 30, 2011}}</ref>
* [[National Jewish Museum Sports Hall of Fame]], Inducted 2007.<ref>{{cite news|last=Finn |first=Robin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/13/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/13colli.html |title=A Joke Inspires a Hall of Fame That's No Joke |work=The New York Times |date=May 13, 2007 |access-date=May 27, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Long Beach City College]] Hall of Fame, Inducted 2007<ref>{{cite web |url=http://athletics.lbcc.edu/athletichome/athletics101107.cfm |title=Long Beach City College Athletics |publisher=Athletics.lbcc.edu |date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=January 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719230714/http://athletics.lbcc.edu/athletichome/athletics101107.cfm |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
* Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiana.edu/~phipsi/alumni.php?sortby=lname |title=Phi Kappa Psi:.:Indiana Beta |publisher=Indiana.edu |access-date=January 30, 2011}}</ref>

==Film and television career==
After Spitz retired from competitive swimming at age 22, he was managed by the [[William Morris Agency]], which tried to get him into [[show business]] while he was still a household name due to his athletic success.<ref name=fmddud>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AaxVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6642%2C1769789 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |last=Grimsley |first=Will |title=Mark Spitz: Olympic hero to a $5 million dud |date=June 7, 1976 |page=3C}}</ref>

A poster featuring Spitz wearing his swimsuit and gold medals that led [[ESPN]] to retroactively label him "the hottest [[pin-up]] since [[Betty Grable]]".<ref name=ESPN>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00016480.html |title=Spitz lived up to enormous expectations | last=Roberts | first= M. B. | work=ESPN |access-date=January 30, 2011}}</ref>

In Spitz's TV debut, he appeared as himself in a skit as a dentist on a [[Bob Hope]] special that aired 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 TV drama ''[[Emergency!]]'', he portrayed Pete Barlow, whose wife (played by Spitz's wife, Suzy) is accidentally shot by a handgun in an overfull drawer. He also appeared briefly on ''[[The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast]]'' of California Governor [[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.<ref name="panasonic.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.panasonic.com/olympics2004/sptiz_bio.html |title=Mark Spitz's biography |publisher=Panasonic.com |year=2004 |access-date=January 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123025214/http://www.panasonic.com/olympics2004/sptiz_bio.html |archive-date=November 23, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> 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<ref name=ESPN/> 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.<ref name=ESPN/>

===Narration===
Spitz narrated ''[[Freedom's Fury]]'', a 2006 Hungarian documentary about the [[Water polo at the 1956 Summer Olympics|Olympic water polo]] team's [[Blood in the Water match]] against the Soviet Union during the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956]] which was repressed by the Soviet Union—considered among the most famous water polo matches.<ref name="Boardman">{{cite book|last=Boardman|first=Margaret Carroll|editor=Nelson, Murry R.|title=American Sports: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2013|page=1216|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tfTXAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA1216|isbn=9780313397530}}</ref> The film was executive produced by [[Quentin Tarantino]] and [[Lucy Liu]],<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Edwards|first=Russell|title=Freedom's Fury|magazine=Variety|date=April 10, 2007|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/reviews/freedom-s-fury-1200560208/|access-date=November 14, 2018}}</ref> and made its debut at the [[Tribeca Film Festival]].<ref name="Boardman"/>

===Commercials===
He appeared in an advertisement 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."<ref name="people.com"/>

In 1974, he was in a number of Schick razors commercials.<ref name="people.com">{{cite web |last=Bruns |first=Bill |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20064247,00.html |title=The Shark Gets Soft – Couples, Olympics, Mark Spitz, Suzy Spitz |work=People |date=July 8, 1974 |access-date=January 30, 2011 |archive-date=February 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110201215847/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20064247,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1998 he appeared with [[Evel Knievel]] in a TV commercial for [[PlayStation]].

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

In 2004, he appeared in a TV commercial for Sprint PCS.<ref>{{IMDb name|id=0819156|section=otherworks|name=Mark Spitz}}</ref> 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 and 2004). The ad was entitled "Shock".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thewhir.com/marketwatch/110707_Go_Daddy_to_Air_New_TV_Commercial.cfm |title=Go Daddy to Air New TV Commercial, WHIR Web Hosting Industry News |publisher=Thewhir.com |access-date=January 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808121305/http://www.thewhir.com/marketwatch/110707_Go_Daddy_to_Air_New_TV_Commercial.cfm |archive-date=August 8, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Also, in 2007 he appeared in the infomercial for the "Orbitrek Elite" fitness workout.<ref name="imdb.com">{{IMDb name|id=0819156|section=bio|name=Mark Spitz}}</ref>

In 2012, Spitz appeared in a commercial for Ageless Male, a testosterone supplement.<ref name="people.com"/>

In a 2019 commercial, Spitz pitched a personal EKG device by KardiaMobile.<ref>{{cite web | access-date = May 19, 2021 | url = https://www.ispot.tv/ad/oW5u/kardiamobile-mark-spitz-on-kardiamobile-featuring-mark-spitz | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191030165212/https://www.ispot.tv/ad/oW5u/kardiamobile-mark-spitz-on-kardiamobile-featuring-mark-spitz | archive-date= October 30, 2019 | title = KardiaMobile TV Commercial, 'Facing New Challenges' Featuring Mark Spitz }}</ref>

In 2022, Spitz endorsed the [[health supplement]] Relief Factor.<ref>{{cite web | access-date = August 2, 2022 | url = https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ACnih4cii38 | title = Relief Factor Commercial (Mark Spitz) (2022) | website=[[YouTube]] }}</ref>

==Personal life==

===Family life===
[[File:Mark Spitz and wife 1973.jpg|thumb|Mark Spitz and Suzy Weiner on their wedding day in May 1973]]
[[File:Mark Spitz and Wife with the Fords B1804 (1).jpg|thumb|right|Spitz (far right) and his wife (far left) with President [[Gerald Ford]] and First Lady [[Betty Ford]] in 1976]]
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.<ref name=ESPN/><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/athens/swimming/2004-08-12-spitz-phelps-sidebar-bonus_x.htm | work=USA Today | title=Golden glow still follows Spitz | first1=Vicki | last1=Michaelis | date=August 13, 2004 | access-date=May 2, 2010}}</ref> Less than a year after the Munich Olympics, they were married on May 6, 1973,<ref name="imdb.com"/> in a traditional Jewish service at the Beverly Hills Hotel.<ref name="people.com"/> They have two sons, Matthew (born October 1981) and Justin (born September 1991). Justin was a member of the Stanford swim team.<ref name="panasonic.com"/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121108112634/http://www.gostanford.com/sports/m-swim/mtt/spitz_justin00.html Justin Spitz]. gostanford.com</ref> Spitz and his wife reside in [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pmgsports.com/talent-overview/mark-spitz/ |title=Mark Spitz - Premier Management Group |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116212107/https://www.pmgsports.com/talent-overview/mark-spitz/ |archive-date=January 16, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/mark-spitzs-house/ |title=Mark Spitz's House - Virtual Globetrotting |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923155313/http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/mark-spitzs-house/ |archive-date=September 23, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Education===
At [[Indiana University]] from 1968 to 1972, Spitz 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."<ref name="10Questions">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,994874,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060902191741/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C994874%2C00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 2, 2006 |first=Alice |last=Park | title=10 Questions For Mark Spitz |magazine=Time  |date=August 16, 2004 |access-date=January 30, 2011}}</ref> Spitz graduated from Indiana University in 1972.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/sports-and-games/sports-biographies/mark-andrew-spitz|title=Mark Andrew Spitz &#124; Encyclopedia.com|website=www.encyclopedia.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mark-Spitz|title=Mark Spitz &#124; Biography, Medals, & Facts|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|date=April 9, 2024 }}</ref>

===Post-swimming career===
After Spitz's return to the United States following the 1972 Olympics, he landed several lucrative corporate endorsement contracts.  He earned about $7 million in a two-year period.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Spitz: Biography |url=http://www.answers.com/topic/mark-spitz |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213183437/http://www.answers.com/topic/mark-spitz |archive-date=13 February 2011 |url-status=dead |publisher=[[Answers.com]] |access-date=23 January 2020}}</ref>  "A million dollars in 1972 would be equivalent to more than $10 million today," Spitz said in 2007.  "I did very well, thank you very much."<ref>{{cite news |title=Spitz just can't get away from Phelps |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/26/sports/AS-SPT-SWM-Worlds-Mark-Spitz.php?page=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919035054/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/26/sports/AS-SPT-SWM-Worlds-Mark-Spitz.php |archive-date=19 September 2008 |url-status=dead |work=[[International Herald Tribune]] |date=March 26, 2007  |access-date=23 January 2020}}</ref> Spitz added, "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."<ref>[http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/sports.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-07-27-0133.html]{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Spitz went on to start a real estate company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00016480.html|title=ESPN.com: Spitz lived up to enormous expectations|website=www.espn.com}}</ref>

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.<ref name=snub>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=afp-oly2008swimusaspitz&prov=afp&type=lgns |title=Spitz, once the star, upset over Beijing snub |publisher=[[Yahoo! Sports]] |author=Hui, Polly |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815220118/http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=afp-oly2008swimusaspitz&prov=afp&type=lgns |archive-date=August 15, 2008 }}</ref>  According to one 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."<ref name=SI>{{cite magazine |last=McGarr |first=Elizabeth |date=July 21, 2008 |title=Catching up with Mark Spitz |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/07/01/spitz.cuw/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726173334/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/07/01/spitz.cuw/index.html |archive-date=26 July 2008 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |access-date=January 30, 2011}}</ref>

Spitz 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.<ref>{{cite news| last= Goodman |first=Dean |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSN1935785920080802 |title=Mark Spitz makes splash about Beijing invite |work=Reuters |date= August 2, 2008|access-date=August 16, 2008 }}</ref>

In July 2012, he endorsed [[Istanbul]]'s [[Istanbul bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics|bid]] to host the [[2020 Summer Olympics]], but the award went to [[Tokyo]].<ref>Mackay, Duncan (July 16, 2012) [http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/2020-bidding-sports/17731-olympic-legend-backs-istanbul-2020 "Olympic legend backs Istanbul 2020"]. insidethegames.biz</ref>

===Hobbies===
His hobbies include sailing, skiing and collecting art.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/2004/aug/10oly-swim1.htm |title=Olympic Legends: Mark Spitz |work=Rediff.com |date=August 10, 2004 |access-date=January 30, 2011}}</ref>

===Famous moustache during Olympics===
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."<ref name="10Questions"/> 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.  It took four months to grow, but Spitz was proud of it, and decided the moustache was a "good-luck piece".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.mercurynews.com/pizarro/2007/11/18/mark-spitz-reveals-the-story-behind-his-mustache/ |title=Mark Spitz reveals the story behind his mustache, Around Town |publisher=Blogs.mercurynews.com |date=November 18, 2007 |access-date=January 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012012254/http://blogs.mercurynews.com/pizarro/2007/11/18/mark-spitz-reveals-the-story-behind-his-mustache/ |archive-date=October 12, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> 

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.'
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."<ref>{{cite news| title=Catching up with Mark Spitz | url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/07/01/spitz.cuw/index.html?eref=si_topstories | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091001014317/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/07/01/spitz.cuw/index.html?eref=si_topstories | url-status= dead | archive-date= October 1, 2009 |work=CNN| date=July 21, 2008 | access-date=May 2, 2010}}</ref>

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]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/mark-spitz-talks-about-his-mustache-and-michael-phelps-1.881390|title=Mark Spitz talks about his mustache (and Michael Phelps) |publisher=newsday.com|author=Dickstein, Max J. |date=July 15, 2008}}</ref>  He also commented on his moustache in a 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 it had become "too gray".

===Health issues===
After retirement, Spitz was diagnosed with [[Gastroesophageal reflux disease|acid reflux disease]], a condition from which his physician thinks he suffered throughout his career.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/11653.php |title=Mark Spitz expresses health issues he faced while achieving Olympic dreams |publisher=Medicalnewstoday.com |access-date=January 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115025742/http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/11653.php |archive-date=January 15, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> "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.<ref>{{cite web |author=Schneiderman, Matt |date=August 1, 2008 |url=http://www.everydayhealth.com/heart-disease/cholesterol/understanding/mylife/mark_spitz/landing.aspx |title=Nearly 20 years ago, while preparing for an Olympic comeback, the decorated swimmer discovered he had high cholesterol – and he's never let it slow him down |publisher=everydayhealth.com |access-date=August 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080901161418/http://www.everydayhealth.com/heart-disease/cholesterol/understanding/mylife/mark_spitz/landing.aspx |archive-date=September 1, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  "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 Health Solutions|Medco]], a [[pharmacy benefit management]] company.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/15897.asp |title=Lane 9 News Archive: Industry News: Mark Spitz, Greg Louganis Join Tour of Champions to Educate Americans on Health Care |publisher=Swimmingworldmagazine.com |access-date=January 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404192201/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/15897.asp |archive-date=April 4, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

==Olympic controversies==

===1972 medal podium incident===
In 1972, Spitz was accused of [[product placement]] during the medal ceremony. Following his victory in the 200-meter freestyle, Spitz carried his shoes and arrived barefoot to obtain his gold medal. He put them down as the American national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner" was played. After the anthem, he picked up his shoes and waved to the crowd. The Soviet officials viewed this as product placement and complained to the IOC. 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.<ref name="expectations"/>

===Issues with 2008 Summer Olympics===
Spitz has said that he felt snubbed by not being asked to attend the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] to watch [[Michael Phelps]] attempt to break his seven-gold-medal record: "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."<ref name=snub/> Spitz added, "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."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hLnTiMa1nwi9qHodVSMCWbP2WBdQ |title=AFP: Spitz, once the star, upset over Beijing snub |date=August 10, 2008 |access-date=January 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012075636/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hLnTiMa1nwi9qHodVSMCWbP2WBdQ |archive-date=October 12, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Spitz has stated that he has no hard feelings towards Phelps.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Spitz |url=http://www.mahalo.com/Mark_Spitz |publisher=Mahalo.com |access-date=January 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207173827/http://www.mahalo.com/Mark_Spitz |archive-date=February 7, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Mark Spitz Jul 2008.jpg|thumbnail|Mark Spitz, throwing first pitch at a baseball game (2008)]]

However, on August 14, 2008, Spitz appeared on NBC's ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today Show]]'' where he clarified his statement and his pride in Michael Phelps:

{{blockquote|It's about time that somebody else takes the throne. And I'm very happy for him. I really, truly am&nbsp;... 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.<ref>{{cite web|last=Considine |first=Bob |url=https://www.today.com/news/mark-spitz-it-s-time-somebody-else-takes-throne-wbna26194898 |title=Spitz on Phelps: 'I'm rooting him on' – TODAY in Beijing |publisher=Today.com |date=August 14, 2008 |access-date=January 30, 2011}}</ref>}}

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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/sports/article/mark_spitz_michael_phelps_is_the_greatest_olympic_athlete_ever_20080817 |title=Mark Spitz: Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympic athlete ever |publisher=Jewish Journal|access-date= August 17, 2008}}</ref>

On August 15, 2008, as part of an interview on NBC, Spitz said that he felt Phelps's 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]]:

{{blockquote|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.<ref>"XXIX Summer Olympics, NBC, interview with Bob Costas, August 15, 2008</ref>}}

In 2015, Spitz allegedly claimed that he had seen an email from Omega, the official timekeeper, that Phelps had lost the closely contested [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metre butterfly|100m butterfly final in 2008]].<ref name="SpitzOmega">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/swimming/11547958/Michael-Phelps-was-given-an-Olympic-gold-in-a-race-he-did-not-win-claims-Mark-Spitz.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/swimming/11547958/Michael-Phelps-was-given-an-Olympic-gold-in-a-race-he-did-not-win-claims-Mark-Spitz.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Michael Phelps was given an Olympic gold in a race he did not win, claims Mark Spitz|date=April 18, 2015|author=Rumsby, Ben |publisher=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He later claimed that his quote had been "misconstrued".<ref>[https://swimswam.com/mark-spitz-it-is-unfortunate-that-my-quote-was-misconstrued-regarding-phelps/ "Mark Spitz: 'It Is Unfortunate That My Quote Was Misconstrued' Regarding Phelps"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013121200/https://swimswam.com/mark-spitz-it-is-unfortunate-that-my-quote-was-misconstrued-regarding-phelps/ |date=October 13, 2016 }}, swimswam.com, April 21, 2015</ref>

===Views on drug testing===

Spitz has been consistent in his criticism of the two swimming 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.<ref name="espn.go.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/spitz_mark.html |title=ESPN Classic – Spitz lived up to enormous expectations |work=ESPN  |access-date=January 30, 2011}}</ref>

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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/am/stories/s157350.htm |title=AM Archive – Champion swimmer attacks IOC over drug testing |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation  |date=July 31, 2000 |access-date=January 30, 2011}}</ref>

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."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-sp-dwyre2-2008aug02,0,5162507.column?page=2 | work=Los Angeles Times | title=Spitz still a man apart, but not by own choice | first=Bill | last=Dwyre | date=August 2, 2008 | access-date=May 2, 2010}}</ref>

==See also==

{{Portal|Biography|Olympics}}
* [[List of Indiana University (Bloomington) people]]
* [[List of multiple Olympic gold medalists]]
* [[List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games]]
* [[List of multiple Summer Olympic medalists]]
* [[List of Jews in sports#Swimming|List of select Jewish swimmers]]
* [[List of top Olympic gold medalists in swimming]]
* [[World record progression 100 metres butterfly]]
* [[World record progression 100 metres freestyle]]
* [[World record progression 200 metres butterfly]]
* [[World record progression 200 metres freestyle]]
* [[World record progression 400 metres freestyle]]
* [[World record progression 4 × 100 metres medley relay]]
* [[World record progression 4 × 200 metres freestyle relay]]

==References==

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Mark Spitz}}
* [https://www.markspitzusa.com/ MarkSpitzUSA.com] – Official website of Mark Spitz
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090107045159/http://www.pmgsports.com/new/swimming_mark_spitz.html Mark Spitz Official Bio]
* [https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/spitz_mark.html Mark Spitz ''ESPN Classic'' biography]
* {{Team USA Hall of Fame|new_id=mark-spitz|old_id=Mark-Spitz|archive=20230720073207}}
* {{Olympics.com profile}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{IMDb name}}

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{{S-ach|rec}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Michael Wenden]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[World record progression 100m freestyle|Men's 100-meter freestyle<br />world record-holder (long course)]]|years = August 23, 1970 – June 21, 1975}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Jim Montgomery (swimmer)|Jim Montgomery]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Don Schollander]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[World record progression 200m freestyle|Men's 200-meter freestyle<br />world record-holder (long course)]]|years = July 12, 1969 – August 23, 1974}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Tim Shaw (swimmer)|Tim Shaw]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Luis Nicolao]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[World record progression 100 metres butterfly|Men's 100-meter butterfly<br />world record-holder (long course)]]|years = July 31, 1967 – August 27, 1977|with=[[Doug Russell (swimmer)|Doug Russell]] on August 29 and October 2, 1967}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Joe Bottom]]}}
{{s-bef|before = <br />[[Kevin Berry]]<br />[[John Ferris (swimmer)|John Ferris]]<br />[[Gary Hall, Sr.]]<br />[[Hans-Joachim Fassnacht]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[World record progression 200 metres butterfly|Men's 200-meter butterfly<br />world record-holder (long course)]]|years = July 26, 1967 – August 30, 1967<br />October 8, 1967 – August 22, 1970<br />August 27, 1971 – August 31, 1971<br />August 2, 1972 – June 3, 1976}}
{{s-aft|after = <br />[[John Ferris (swimmer)|John Ferris]]<br />[[Gary Hall, Sr.]]<br />[[Hans-Joachim Fassnacht]]<br />[[Roger Pyttel]]}}
{{s-sports|oly}}
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{{s-bef|rows=2|before= [[Carl Osburn]]}}
{{s-ttl|title= [[United States at the Olympics|Most career Olympic medals<br />won by an American]]|years= 1972–2004}}
{{s-aft|after= [[Jenny Thompson]]}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title= [[United States at the Olympics|Most career Olympic medals<br />won by an American man]]|years= 1972–2008}}
{{s-aft|after= [[Michael Phelps]]}}
|-
{{s-end}}

{{Footer USA Swimming 1968 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Swimming 1972 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 100 m Freestyle Men}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 200 m Freestyle Men}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 100 m Butterfly Men}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 200 m Butterfly Men}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 4x100 m Freestyle Relay Men}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 4x200 m Freestyle Relay Men}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 4x100 m Medley Relay Men}}
{{Footer Pan American Champions 100 m Butterfly Men}}
{{Footer Pan American Champions 200 m Butterfly Men}}
{{Footer Pan American Champions 4x100 m Freestyle Men}}
{{Footer Pan American Champions 4x200 m Freestyle Men}}
{{Footer Pan American Champions 4x100 m Medley Men}}
{{APAthleteOTY}}
{{Sullivan Award winners}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spitz, Mark}}
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