Spitz won 11 Olympic medals over two Olympic Games but always will be best remembered for his remarkable seven gold medals at the 1972 Games. That summer in Munich, Spitz set four individual World records: 100-Meter (51.22), 200-Meter Freestyle (1:52.78), 100-Meter (54.27), and 200-Meter Butterfly (2:00.70). He also participated in three relay event World records: 4 x 100 Freestyle (3:26.42), 4 x 200 Freestyle (7:35.78), and 4 x 100 Medley (3:48.16). He swam the third leg of the 200 Freestyle and 100 Medley, and the last leg of the 100 Freestyle.
His final victory came only hours before Palestinian terrorists took hostage and eventually murdered 11 Israeli athletes in the Munich Olympic Village. Spitz was unceremoniously whisked out of the country under heavy security guard.
Between 1965 and 1972, Spitz won nine Olympic gold medals, one silver, and one bronze; five Pan-American golds; 31 National U.S. Amateur Athletic Union titles; and eight U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships. During those years, he set 33 World records.
He was World Swimmer of the Year in 1967, 1971, and 1972. In 1971, Spitz became the first Jewish recipient of the James E. Sullivan Award, given annually to the Amateur Athlete of the Year. In bicentennial year 2000, Sports Illustrated named Spitz No. 33 on its list of the ‘Top 100 Athletes of the 20th Century’.
Currently
Mark is a highly requested public speaker throughout the World, having executed endorsements for Xerox, Kodak, Bausch & Lomb, John Hancock Financial Services, General Motors, General Mills, Swatch and many others. Mark will continue to be a very hot commodity as long as there is an Olympic Games somewhere in the world or the desire by a group to hear from one of the greatest living legends of all-time in sports. He travels the World speaking about Olympic and non Olympic topics. His memories of the terrorist attacks at the 1972 Games and the relevancy of the current geo-political climate make Mark a highly coveted keynote speaker.
Mark is also a Series 7 licensed broker. He co-owns a brokerage company that oversees $100 millions in assets for high net worth individuals.
Speaking Topics:
Olympic Dream & Spirit
World Events, 1972-Current
What Makes A Champion
The Olympic Champion Within Everyone