Mark Spitz

In 1968, Mark Spitz participated in his first Olympic Games in Mexico City. Together with his teammates, Spitz won two titles: the 4 x 100 m freestyle and the 4 x 200 m freestyle relays. In addition, Spitz finished second in the 100 m butterfly and third in the 100 m freestyle. In spite of the successes, Spitz was disappointed, as he had announced a bid for five gold medals, after his had accomplished that feat at the 1967 Panamerican Games[?].

Four years later, in Munich, Spitz got his revenge. In West Germany, he won no less than seven Olympic gold medals, a feat yet unequalled by any other Olympic athlete. Even more remarkable, Spitz won all the gold medals setting a new World Record. The events he won were: 100 m freestyle, 200 m freestyle, 100 m butterfly, 200 m butterfly, 4 x 100 m freestyle, 4 x 100 m freestyle and 4 x 100 m medley.

Still only aged 22, Spitz retired from swimming after the Munich Games. However, at age 41, Spitz attempted to make a comeback in an attempt to qualify for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, after film maker Bud Greenspan[?] had offered him a million dollars if he would succeed in qualifying. Filmed by Greenspan's cameras, Spitz failed to make the qualifying limit.