Overview

Mark Spitz is a former competitive swimmer and nine-time Olympic champion. He is best known for his remarkable performance at the 1972 Munich Olympics, where he won seven gold medals in a single Olympic Games, setting world records in each event. This achievement stood as a record for the most gold medals in a single Olympics until it was surpassed by Michael Phelps in 2008. Spitz’s swimming prowess in freestyle and butterfly events made him one of the greatest swimmers in history. His charismatic personality and iconic mustache also made him a popular figure in the sports world.

• 9-time Olympic gold medalist (1968, 1972)
• Inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame (1977)
• Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year (1972)
• James E. Sullivan Award (1971)
• Laureus World Sports Lifetime Achievement Award (2003)