Mark Spitz is one of the greatest living sports legends and most remembered by his astonishing win of seven gold medals at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. Until the 2008 Games, Spitz held the record for the most Olympic Gold medals during one Olympics by a single Olympiad.
Between 1965 and 1972, Spitz won a total of 11 Olympic medals: nine gold, one silver and one bronze. During those years, he set 33 World records. He was voted “Athlete of the century” in water sports and one of six “Greatest Olympians” by Sports Illustrated in 2000.
As his focus on swimming slowly began to fade, he became an entrepreneur. He started a successful real estate company in Beverly Hills and continued to capitalise on his success in a recording breaking way. As the real estate market started slowing down, he shifted his focus to the stock market. He became a stock broker and now concentrates in private equity. He continues to seek and pursue opportunities that he feels would be a successful investment.
In 2008, Spitz released a self-published book The Extraordinary Life of an Olympic Champion. The book gives insight from Spitz himself, his coaches and competitors and shares his journey from his early years, to his success as a college athlete at Indiana University and his lucrative Olympic career.
He was voted “Athlete of the century” in water sports and one of six “Greatest Olympians” by Sports Illustrated in 2000. Between 1965 and 1972, Spitz won nine Olympic gold medals, one silver, and one bronze; five Pan-American golds; 31 National U.S. Amateur Athletic Union titles; and eight U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships. During those years, he set 33 World records.
