Mark Spitz

Mark Spitz is one of the greatest living sports legends and most remembered athletes of all-time. His astonishing win of 7 total Gold Medals at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich set a historic mark for most Gold Medals in a single Olympics. Following the ‘72 Games, Mark’s clout and charisma helped him become a pioneer for Olympic endorsements, working as a heralded spokesperson for a number of industry leading companies including Speedo and Schick Razors.

Between 1965 and 1972, Spitz won a total of 11 Olympic Medals: nine gold, one silver and one bronze. During those years he set 33 World records. He was voted “Athlete of the Century” in water sports and one of 6 “Greatest Olympians” by Sports Illustrated in 2000.

As his focus on swimming slowly began to fade, he became an entrepreneur. Mark started a successful real estate company in Beverly Hills and continued to capitalize on his success in a recording breaking way. In the 80’s, Mark was one of the largest residential real estate developers in Southern California and was involved with an 8-figure apartment development in Hawaii during this time as well. As the real estate market started slowing down, he shifted his focus to the stock market.

In 2008, Mark released a self-published book “The Extraordinary Life of an Olympic Champion.” 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.
Nowadays, Mark travels the country as a highly sought-after motivational speaker for business conferences, sports forums and other special events.

More About Mark Spitz . . .
Mark Spitz began swimming at the age of two. He held 17 national records (for his age group) at the age of ten and was named “the world’s best 10-and-under swimmer.” At age 16, Mark Spitz won his first AAU National Championship. The following year he won five gold medals at the 1967 Pan American Games and laid claim to ten world records.

Before the 1968 games in Mexico City, Mark Spitz predicted he would accomplish what no one else had— to win six gold medals. He ended up with two team golds, plus an individual silver and bronze. It’s tough for someone to be disappointed with four Olympic medals, but Mark Spitz was.

Mark Spitz spent the next four years at Indiana University, winning almost every conceivable award, setting almost every world record in existence, and preparing himself for the 1972 Olympics in Munich.

At Munich, not only did Spitz win the six golds he predicted four years before—he won seven! And not only did he win all seven, but world records were set in each event. He won four individual gold medals in the 200m butterfly, the 200m freestyle, the 100m butterfly and the 100m freestyle. He also added three team golds as the United States won the 4x100m freestyle relay, the 4x200m relay, and the 4×100 medley relay.

Mark Spitz is a highly requested public speaker throughout the World. He has also executed endorsements for Xerox, Kodak, Bausch & Lomb, John Hancock Financial Services, General Motors, General Mills, Swatch and many others.