The record seven gold haul in Olympics remained unchallenged for more than three decades before another American added one more. The extraordinary feet was first achieved by Mark Spitz in 1972, and he had always remained a true inspiring personality for any swimmer or another athlete.
Even Michael Phelps would not deny that in breaking Spitz record only Spitz, the former swimmer remained his inspiration. Records are made to be broken by the successors, but till date his record of setting new world timing in all the events that he clinched gold are intact.
Spitz had really dominated the world of swimming in the early 70s which began in the later part of the 60s. Apart from his prolific earnings from swimming the former champion had earned a terrific reputation for improving the brand of the sponsors.
He also earns quite profusely from various sporting organizations. The long career has obviously helped the master swimmer to gather enough wealth which is reflected through the various luxuries of his life. Spitz has gathered at least $20 million dollars as his estimated net worth.
Early life
Spitz was born as Mark Andrew Spitz on 10th February 1950 in Modesto, California, United States of America. He was born to a Jewish family where Arnold and Lenore were his parents who raised their son with their other children. When Spitz was only two, his father started to train him in swimming.
Spitz passed some days in Hawaii during childhood where he improved his swimming ability and was later enrolled at the Sacramento’s Arden Hills Swim Club to raise a hope under the guidance of trainer Sherm Chavoor.
During his schooling at Santa Clara High School, he remained unchallenged in all the categories of swimming competition. When he had not attained his teenage even, a boy of mere 10 years, he had a world record under his name.
After clearing the secondary education, Spitz became the student of Indiana University as a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. During his college days, he went in for many competitions. In his teenage, at 16, he created another world record.
Career
At 15 in 1965, he went in to compete in the Maccabiah Games. This was his first international event where he bagged four Gold Medals. Later he improved his record at Maccabiah Games and summed up to ten Gold in the competition.
He began his exploration of Gold in Olympic in 1968 and successfully bagged two. The event of 1972 Olympic would always remain a memorable event not only in his life but would always make a spark in the memories of any American. Spitz is the only third player in the history of Olympics who had bagged 9 Gold medals through splendid performance. With his absolute supremacy, he had tallied 9 Gold medals with one Silver medal and one Bronze medal.
His dominance in swimming was also seen in the 1967 Pan American Games where Spitz bowed down five times at the podium to receive the Gold medals. He had created new world record 35 times.
He was an obvious choice for the Swimming World magazine to honor him by declaring the champion, the World Swimmer of the Year in three consecutive years beginning in 1969.
From his successful early days as a swimmer he had won US National Collegiate titles eight times and was really at it his peak as he received US Amateur Athletic Union titles to an astonishing 31 times. Among his various awards, the James E. Sullivan Award of 1971 and Associated Press Male Athlete of the year 1972 requires special mentioning.
Personal life
After the coming out from the swimming pool Spitz dived in once more to win the heart of Suzy Weiner who has become a successful actress and model later.
After passing few days in romance, the couple decided to marry. The marriage held at Hills Hotel on 6th May 1973 and in the course of time, they became parents of two sons Matthew and Justin.
Quick summary:
Full Name: Mark Andrew Spitz
Date of Birth: 10th February 1950
Birth Place: Modesto, California, United States of America
Age: 68 Years
Profession: Former Swimmer
Height: 1.83 m
Weight: 73 Kg
Net worth: $20 Million
