Mark is a highly requested public speaker throughout the world and will continue to be a very hot commodity as long as there is an olympic games somewhere in the world or. Mark spitz wins seven swimming golds chastened by past failure and buoyed by a huge ego, mark spitz won. Mark spitz is arguably the most famous and successful olympic athlete of all time. Mark spitz olympic swimming united states of america. Mark spitz is arguably the most famous and successful olympic athlete of all time because of his legendary performances at the 1972 olympics, where he won seven gold medals while breaking seven world records. Mark spitz simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Brought to the ocean as a toddler, spitz showed an early exuberance for swimming while living in hawaii. Mark schubert, head olympic coach, usa swimming mark spitz is one of the most significant figures in the history of. In feeding his passion for swimming, he has developed yourswimbook, a powerful log book and goal setting guide made specifically for swimmers. Mark spitz is arguably the most famous and successful olympic athlete of.
Since the jos were a spring event, both ferris and spitz were 16, as ferris didnt turn 17 until july. Mark spitz is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. Mark spitz international jewish sports hall of fame. His amazing life story is told for the first time in the authorized biography mark spitz. It is both a compelling read and an excellent insight into the trials and triumphs of olympic swimmers. This book does an excellent job of telling the story of marks. Book mark spitz for public speaking harry walker agency. Four years later, the family returned to california, but the swimming continued in earnest and at remarkable speed. Mark andrew spitz born february 10, 1950 is an american former competitive swimmer and. That achievement was only passed by michael phelps who won eight golds at the 2008 olympics. Though mark spitz is best known for winning 7 gold medals in swimming at the 1972 olympic games in munich, he also had a legendary ncaa career as a studentathlete at indiana university from 1968. Mark andrew spitz born february 10, 1950 is an american retired swimmer of jewish descent. The book gives insight from spitz himself, his coaches and competitors and shares his journey from his early years, to his success as a college athlete at indiana university and his lucrative olympic career. Mark spitz was born on february 10, 1950 in modesto, california.
She is also the author of the book janet evans total swimming, published in 2007, and offers fitness programs and insight on proper swim technique. I enjoyed this book and learning about him outside the pool and the events before and after. In 1961 arnold spitzs job moved the family to walnut creek, where mark floundered around ineffectually in different swimming programs until his father, in alarm, consulted chavoor. He wrote the mark spitz complete book of swimming 1976 and his autobiography, seven golds. He moved with his family to honolulu, hawaii, while he was still very young. By the age of 6, he was competing in the local swimming club and by the age of 10, he already had to his credit 17 national records in different age groups. Spitz was named a member of the international swimming hall of fame in 1977 and the u.
The mark spitz complete book of swimming book, 1977. Mark spitz is one of the greatest living sports legends and most remembered by his astonishing win of seven gold medals at the 1972 olympic games in munich. Booking mark spitz certainly raises the profile of your show or event. Mark spitz, born 10 feb 1950, is an olympic swimmer for the usa. Mark spitz usa american swimmer mark spitz on the top step of the podium for the 100m butterfly. Swim bits how i came to appreciate mark spitz part 2. When mark spitz was two years old, his family moved from california to hawaii. Mark spitz held the title of best swimmer in the world until his record of seven gold medals in the 1972 olympics was beaten by michael phelps in 2008. At the 1972 munich games, he won 7 gold medals, setting a new world record each time. In my early training days, i had my cholesterol levels checked regularly. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. He swam in the water at waikkiki beach almost every day, developing a prodigious childhood talent.
Spitz, mark united states of america swimming 4x100m freestyle relay 4x100m medley relay 100m butterfly 100m freestyle 200m freestyle 200m butterfly 4x200m freestyle relay. Gtb is ready to help you make the event flawless, so your attendees remember mark spitz instead of a mixup. The mark spitz complete book of swimming by mark spitz. Mark spitz in action mark spitz encouraged by his father arnold, who often repeated the mantra swimming isnt everything. A few years before farrah fawcett donned her red bathing suit, seventime gold medalist mark spitz wore his stars and stripes speedo to dramatic effect in. The rivalry between ferris and spitz, however, had started much earlier than mexico city. Mark spitz was born in modesto, california, on february 10, 1950, the son of arnold and lenore spitz. Mark andrew spitz born february 10, 1950 is an american former competition swimmer, ninetime olympic champion, and former world recordholder in seven events. Why johnny weissmullers 1934 swim times would still beat 95.
Before there was mark spitz, there was don schollander, who won four swimming gold medals at the 1964 tokyo olympics. He won seven gold medals at the 1972 summer olympics in munich, an achievement surpassed only by michael phelps, who won eight golds at the 2008 summer olympics in beijing. Olympic games in munich set a historic mark for most gold medals in a single. But what has happened to mark spitz, the swimmer, the man, the legend.
The extraordinary life of an olympic champion ebook written by richard j foster. He won seven gold medals at the 1972 summer olympics in munich. In 1966 it came to a head at the sc jos at arden hills. Find highquality mark spitz stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. Mark spitz is the greatest swimmer in history and holder of the most extraordinary achievement of the modern olympic games. Buy online, pick up in store is currently unavailable, but this item may be available for instore purchase. My college coach, casey converse was an olympian in 1976 and he was the first man under 15 minutes in the 1650. Mark spitz is a jewish american swimmer and eleventime olympic medalist, including a thenrecord seven golds at the 1972 games.
The mark spitz complete book of swimming hardcover january 1, 1976 by mark spitz author visit amazons mark spitz page. Us swimmer mark spitz had adored the water since his early childhood in hawaii. Mark spitz finished last in the finals of the second event after being favored. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read mark spitz. However, in this book, rich foster reveals the real mark spitz, and for that. Fans of mark spitz and swimming in general will love this thorough look at the personal and professional lives of this great olympian. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. In 2008, mark released a selfpublished book, the extraordinary life of an olympic champion. Mark spitz is an american former competition swimmer who won seven gold medals at the 1972 summer olympics in munich, a record that stood for over three decades before being broken by michael phelps, who won eight golds at the 2008 summer olympics in beijing. Mark andrew spitz was born in modesto, california, on february 10, 1950. Pages public figure athlete mark spitz videos 1972 olympic swimming trials. The first was the home swimmer portable stationary swimming system. Mark now travels the world as a highly soughtafter motivational speaker for business conferences, sports forums and other special events. He said that the biggest advance in swimming when he was swimming was the widespread use and improvement in goggles, which happened between 72 and 76.
I grew up, a swimmer in the 70s, being fascinated with mark spitz. I wish him and his effort the same olympian success he achieved as champ swimmer his books are excellent. Mark spitz has won seven gold medals and established many world records for swimming. History documentary films nonfiction films personal narratives. Much better to drown than to wade through this strokebystroke analysis of swimming by the worlds most egocentric athlete. In all, spitz won no fewer than seven gold medals at the olympic games in. Complete book of swimming hardcover january 1, 1977 by mark spitz author visit amazons mark spitz page. And, each of the gold medals was won while setting a world record. Even then, they were a little elevated around 210 or 220, which in that day was considered okay, but my. In fact, schollander became the first person to win four golds in a single olympics since 1936, when a man named jesse owens blazed to glory a the. He started to swim at the age of 2, at the waikiki beach in hawaii. Watch mark spitz race at the ncaa championships, 19691972. That means that even mark spitzs times from the 1972 olympic games are. Mark spitz story bio, facts, networth, family, auto.
The mark spitz complete book of swimming hardcover january 1, 1976 by mark spitz author. An age group world record holder by the age of ten and one of the countrys finest teenage swimmers, he. Don schollander swimming 100 meter freestyle the 18year old from oswego, oregon became the golden boy of the 1964 olympics. Emergency mark andrew spitz born february 10, 1950 is an american former competition swimmer, ninetime olympic champion, and former world recordholder in seven events. For well over three decades, if you asked just about anyone if they could name a famous swimmer, whether they were a fan or not, theyd answer, mark spitz. Fans of mark spitz and swimming in general will love this thorough look at the. Mark schubert, head olympic coach, usa swimming mark spitz is one of the most significant figures in the history of the olympic games and is a remarkable human being.