Mark Spitz

Mark Spitz’s Main Accomplishments Include . . .
Considered one of the greatest Olympic athletes of all-time, in many circles, Mark Spitz is synonymous with excellence and is one of the most recognized faces in the world. In 2000, Mark Spitz was voted “Athlete of the Century” in water sports and one of the “Six Greatest Olympians Ever” by Sports Illustrated. Recently, the International Olympic Committee selected Mark Spitz as one of its “Five Athletes of the Century”. In the 1972 Munich games, Mark Spitz took the gold seven times, a feat that had never before been accomplished by an Olympian, and broke world records in each event. Mark Spitz has won a total of 11 Olympic medals.

In the 1972 Munich Summer Olympic Games, Mark Spitz won four individual golds in the 200m butterfly, the 200m freestyle, the 100m butterfly and the 100m freestyle. He also added three team gold medals as the United States won the 4x100m freestyle relay, the 4x200m relay, and the 4x100 medley relay.  
Mark Spitz is considered the greatest living sports legend in the Jewish community. Having spoken to hundreds of faith based groups, Mark’s personal story of overcoming religious intolerance, his first hand account of the tragedy at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games where 11 of the Israeli athletes were murdered through current events from around the world today, are compelling and as timely as ever.

An accomplished speaker, Mark Spitz has spent over 30 years developing messages that are universal in nature and always right on target. Having spoken with some of the largest companies in the World such as Panasonic, Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, GM, Coca-Cola and many others Mark Spitz has cultivated his ability to communicate to various levels of employees from top level executives through entry level staff in the same caring, confident and communicative style that has earned him raves from his peers.

Mark Spitz will continue to be in strong demand as long as there is an Olympic Games somewhere in the world, or the desire by a group to hear from one of the greatest living sports legends of all-time.

More on 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 4x100 medley relay.