Mark Spitz, the greatest Olympian of all-time from 1972 to 2008, has been gracious with his time on the SwimSwam Podcast. Ahead of the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo he has shared many stories, his wisdom, and his humor. Our younger Olympic fans probably know his name and understand he’s important, but they may not know the context of his career and how central he has been to swimming’s success over the last five decades. While swimming has produced many, many star Olympians, Mark was the first true Olympic icon, globally famous, and he drove our swimming registration. I was a child of the 1970s, and when I started swimming, I dreamed of Olympic success because of his story and his immense achievement, winning seven gold medals (breaking seven world records) at the 1972 Olympic Games.
If you missed the first Spitz Episode of the GMM takeover of the SwimSwam Podcast, see it here.
In this episode Mark unpacks:
- the 1968 Olympic Games, when he was a kid with immense pressure to win six Olympic gold medals
- the 1972 Olympic Games, and more insightful stories
- the mind of an Olympic champion
- and he describes his experience at the ’72 Olympics when the terrorist group Black September took nine members of the Israel Olympic team hostage. Press pause and see more on that history, known as the Munich Massacre.
This podcast isn’t all intensity and drama. True to form, Mark is funny and entertaining, and he starts with an usual story behind his famous 1972 Olympic swimsuit, the one suit in which he won all seven 1972 gold medals.
Before there was Michael Phelps, there was Mark Spitz. Between now and the U.S. Olympic Trials, I’ll rollout these episodes. I absolutely love Mark. Some of my best swimming memories come from him, outside of the pool, just talking. I hope you enjoy it…
Follow Mark Spitz on Instagram here.
See Mark’s version of the “Ledecky Challenge” on his Instagram where he does it doing butterfly:
Follow Gold Medal Mel on Instagram here.
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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
Opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the interviewed guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC and/or SwimSwam advertising partners.
Great interview! Scott Spann was my “bee sting”! Thank you Dr. Scott.
Amazing & skilled interview sensitive to the historical events at the time. Kudos to Mel & Mark!
Mark is the BEST – intelligent, humorous, humble (finally) and personable. GREAT INTERVIEW MEL.
Q: Mark was the first true Olympic icon, globally famous…Johnny Weissmuller? Just nit-picking!
Alfréd Hajós in 1896 was a real badass and hipster.
Ha! Up vote
…was waiting for this comment. I grew up watching his b/w Tarzan movies.
Those were fun. I wondered as a kid why Tarzan was such a good swimmer. I found out about Weissmuller being in the Olympics later on.
goosebumps for the last 25 minutes. Mark is a great story teller. I want dinner with Mark for my next birthday!
Glad you like it… glad Mark was willing to unpack that narrative.
GMM…..great interview …loved it
Very good interview.
Fantastic outstanding interviews! I grew up with Mark in northern California as an age grouper through seniors. His stories about himself, his coaches, and his experiences in swimming are truly refreshing to hear and an inspiration to all!!