The Hindu : Sport : Spitz synonymous with excellence

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Spitz synonymous with excellence

Amitabha Das Sharma

The legendary swimmer won seven golds

The Olympics has always brought out the best from sportspersons and many immortal feats still remain unchallenged.

In this measure of excellence, Mark Spitz’s name could come foremost in the list.

The American swimmer touched limits of possibility that has remained an unrivalled landmark in the annals of sports.

Spitz created a new mark of perfection in the 1972 Games at Munich by becoming the first athlete to win seven gold medals in an Olympics. His performance was even more remarkable because all came with world record timings!

Though Munich brings up sombre images of terrorism, with the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes in the Olympics Village, Spitz, a Jew himself, made the event more memorable with his superhuman effort.

Early start

Born on February 10, 1950 at Modesto, California, Mark Andrew Spitz was led to his aquatics future by his father Arnold at the age of two. Conscious of the genius in him, Spitz defied the usual tenets of etiquette. This led his peers to brand him as brash and cocky.

Encouraged by 10 world records already to his name, Spitz raked up controversy as an 18-year-old by claiming he would win six gold medals in his first Olympic appearance at Mexico City in 1968. He failed to match his claim and returned with just two team golds (4x100 and 4x200 freestyle relays) and two individual medals — silver in the 100m butterfly and bronze in the 100m freestyle.

Never to be cowed down by disappointment Spitz re-dedicated himself and entered Indiana University to train under legendary coach Doc Counsilman. While readying himself for Munich, Spitz continued to accumulate awards and was named the World Swimmer of the Year in 1969, 1971 and 1972.

In Munich he began the gold haul by winning his pet stroke — butterfly. He won the 200m butterfly (2:00.7s) and went on to repeat the feat in his next event — 200m freestyle (1:52.78s).

He was even better in the shorter stretches and picked up golds in the 100m butterfly (54.27s) and 100m freestyle (51.22s).

Having wrapped up triumphs in the all the individual events, Spitz picked up three team golds in 4x100m freestyle relay (3:26.42), 4x200m freestyle relay (7:35.78) and the 4x100m medley relay (3:48.16). Spitz announced his retirement in the same year at the height of swimming glory.

His moustachioed good looks took him to Hollywood after retirement but his showbiz career misfired. And so did his attempt to come out of retirement before the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

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