Mark Spitz: The Extraordinary Life of an Olympic Champion

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Overview

Documenting his legendary performances at the 1972 Olympics—winning seven gold medals while breaking seven world records—this is the first biography to chronicle the amazing life story of renowned athlete Mark Spitz. Every aspect of his roller-coaster career is recorded, from an age-group prodigy and four-medal "flop" at the 1968 Olympics to an outstanding collegiate career at Indiana University and a gold-medal haul in 1972 followed by lucrative endorsements and an unsuccessful stint in entertainment. Personal stories are also included such as the role Spitz's father played in his career, stormy relationships with coaches and ...

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Overview

Documenting his legendary performances at the 1972 Olympics—winning seven gold medals while breaking seven world records—this is the first biography to chronicle the amazing life story of renowned athlete Mark Spitz. Every aspect of his roller-coaster career is recorded, from an age-group prodigy and four-medal "flop" at the 1968 Olympics to an outstanding collegiate career at Indiana University and a gold-medal haul in 1972 followed by lucrative endorsements and an unsuccessful stint in entertainment. Personal stories are also included such as the role Spitz's father played in his career, stormy relationships with coaches and teammates, experiences as a Jewish athlete amidst anti-Semitism and the Munich massacre, and his impact on the commercialization of swimming. Career insights and behind-the-scenes anecdotes about Spitz and his competitors shed light on his complicated personality and round out the details of this swimming icon's story for old and new fans alike.

Editorial Reviews

Mark Schubert
Fans of Mark Spitz and swimming in general will love this thorough look at the personal and professional lives of this great Olympian. (Mark Schubert, head Olympic coach, USA Swimming)
Library Journal

It's been 36 years since Mark Spitz won a record seven gold medals in swimming during the tragic 1972 Munich Olympics, and he remains a giant figure in the history of both competitive swimming and the Olympics. The iconic photograph of Spitz wearing his swimsuit and all seven medals was the best-selling poster of a sports figure until the late 1970s. Foster, the current president of United States Aquatic Sports and a former member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, takes the reader back to Spitz's turbulent youth, when he was seen by many as an arrogant jerk. Foster's balanced and meticulous retelling of Spitz's challenges, struggles, and triumphs is informed by extensive interviews with Spitz as well as his family, coaches, and competitors. Furthermore, the fine points of swim racing are discussed here, at times in overwhelming detail. While swimming does not generally garner the interest that other sports do, Spitz is perhaps the finest swimmer of all time, and his ongoing life is well recounted here. Recommended for collections focused on swimming or the Olympics.
—John Maxymuk

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781595800398
  • Publisher: Santa Monica Press
  • Publication date: 7/1/2008
  • Pages: 360
  • Sales rank: 537,306
  • Product dimensions: 6.20 (w) x 9.10 (h) x 0.80 (d)

Meet the Author

Richard J. Foster is the current president of United States Aquatic Sports and USA Water Polo. He serves on the board of the United States Olympic Committee and currently teaches a graduate-level sports law course at Long Beach State University. He lives in Long Beach, California.

Table of Contents


Acknowledgments     5
Foreword   Mark Spitz     7
Introduction   Keith Jackson     9
A Favorite Color Emerges     11
Swimming for Sherm     25
The Move to Santa Clara     33
The 1968 Swim Camp Cabal     45
Four-Medal "Flop" in Mexico City     67
Finding Doc     87
The NCAA Years and the Spitz-Russell Rematch     97
Change for the Better     117
Pressure at the 1972 Trials     131
On the Road to Redemption     145
What If?     159
Hump Day     181
History is Made     191
"They're All Gone"     201
{dollar}ign{dollar} of the Time{dollar}     215
Back in the Water     229
Presidents, Kings, and Queens     243
Similar Goals, Different Journeys     255
Epilogue-Where Are They Now?     271
Mark Spitz's World Records     281
Index     283

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