Mark Spitz
DOB: 10/2/1950 Event: Swimming Medals: 9 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze Flag: USA
Last Updated: 25/07/12 1:10pm
Mark Spitz is one of the most legendary swimmers the world has seen, with astonishing success at the Olympic Games during his career.
He was born in California and when he was just two years old, his family moved to Hawaii where he swam almost every day at Waikiki Beach.
Aged six, he started to compete at his local swim club and his passion grew from then on.
Amazingly, before he was even 10 years old, Spitz held 17 national age-group records, as well as one world record.
Legend
It was at the 1968 Olympic Games that he really made his mark in the swimming world. He won two team gold medals in the 4x100m freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle relay.
The swimming legend is probably best remembered by his astounding win of seven gold medals at the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972.
Spitz won his final competition just hours before Palestinian terrorists captured and murdered 11 Israeli athletes in the Munich Olympic Village. Spitz was whisked out of the country under heavy security guard after this.
Following his swimming career, Spitz started a successful real-estate company in Beverly Hills and is also a public speaker.
