When you watch how different the way swimmers swim today are so different. The swimmers today swim look so aerodynamic, as the saying goes, you can put a cup of water on their heads.
was your pop ian ?............I was 14 yrs old then but remember the name............same with bruce rogers at flst........74 to 76..........nat qualifier in 100 back and 100 fly.........be well
From Wikipedia: "Spitz was originally reluctant to swim the 100-meter freestyle, fearing that he would not win the gold medal. Minutes before the race, he confessed on the pool deck to ABC's Donna de Varona, 'I know I say I don't want to swim before every event, but this time I'm serious. If I swim six and win six, I'll be a hero. If I swim seven and win six, I'll be a failure.' Spitz won by half a stroke in a world-record time of 51.22 seconds."
@FJLocHDwe'd like to think people were stupid in the past but i think they tried to enter the water as flat as possible probably because the were not allowed underwater dolphin kicks
I was in Munich when Spitz won his medals. The whole Olympic village was totally shocked that one athlete could accomplish such an amazing feat. Seven golds. Seven world records. And then the unthinkable happened and shocked us again, but in a totally different way
I was glued to the Olympics in 1972. I used to dream of sleeping next to Mark Spitz - with his body and arms around me. That’s it -- just sleeping -- arms around me -- nothing else. What ? You don’t believe me ? You think that I am not saying what I really wish would happen ? Well that’s it ! Hugging - Snuggling. If something else would have happened -- well -- that was not on my agenda and I should not be held responsible. 😇
True story after the Olympics Mark was dining at the Marina Del Rey City Club which was part of the Marina Towers. We had the pleasure of eating there and on one evening Mark was there eating and he had just done a milk commercial and when I saw him, he was drinking wine and I was just a little kid and before my mom could grab me I ran over to him and scolded him for not drinking milk.
Someone told me Spitz was suffering from nerves and looking to scratch from the 100m free final, he was told by (I think it was the coach Doc Councilman) "go ahead but if you do, no one will remember you!"
+TheColinChapman Stupid comment.. If you know a bit in swimming, you will see how much this sport has grown the last couple of years... I mean, look at the technics they were using, and look at the technics they have right now ?
You have to remember that the water used in the pools now is different to what that used back then. The density of the water back then was so much higher, thus more difficult to manoeuvre through.
+bp w probably correct, even if it sounds ridiculous. but as far as I know, back in these days the water temperature was 60F, now it is 70F. that makes approx. two percent in density.
If Mark Spitz could of earned money like M Phelps does today I believe he would of had as many gold medals as Phelps. Back then they had to be amateurs who earned no money. He quit swimming after 1972 so he could make money from his success. If you look at his races he won them all convincingly so I think he would of had as long of a run as Micheal..
I have vague memories of watching this in a hotel room not sure how thats possible seens how i wasnt born until 86 just watching this to see if i get any other flashbacks
El mejor de todos !!!...( sin todas esas mallas de ahora, para deslizarse mejor en el agua ) , con un físico, digamos "normal ", no "deforme", como se ven en estos tiempos... Tuve la fortuna, de nadar en la piscina del Club Palmeiras, de San Pablo ( Brasil ) , donde había una enorme foto de él, con una leyenda , que decía : " AQUI NADÓ MARK SPITZ !!! "...!
While it might have taken 36 years for another athlete (Michael Phelps) to top Mark Spitz' All Time Record of most Golds in a single Olympics, I think it will be more than a half century from now before Phelps' All Time Record is topped.
If it wasn't for those points, this looks like it could have happened today! The digital clocks look ahead of the time, it's hard to believe it's 40 years ago... though the moustache helps! It's funny, as I guess sports competitors thought less about what would streamline them in their sport and were still happy to follow the hair/facial hair fashions of the time.
The Best Multi-Talented Swimmer of all time.The Legend Mark Spitz 🙂👍Try Breaking a World Swim Record and No Swim Goggles in the Chlorine filled Swimming Pools of the 70's
Spitz is better than Phelps; better looking too. They had to get Spitz out of Germany in 1972 quickly because of what happened to the Israeli athletes (Spitz is Jewish).
Henry J not necessarily, they would be disqualified then. it's really not that hard to get this much mass, it's not like they look like body builders ffs. all you need is the right kind of diet and some weight exercises in addition to swimming
SkylarPro clearly you know nothing about steroids, you dont take them then suddenly look like a bodybuilder. They can also be used for strength and endurance reasons not mass building.
I agree, he does not have the physical features of any Native American tribal group that I am familiar with. In fact, he looks Caucasian, so most likely of European descend. Very good observational skills Rectiony.
no ! Mark Spitz is the first and only , Michael looks more like Mark . Mark came before Michael . spitz won 7 gold and retired at just 22 yrs more achieving than Michael . Michael just has more medals and gold because he is greedy . Mark Spitz isnt greedy and doesnt need any more medals
Because of the ideological differences obviously. North wants the united Korea to be under their regime while South wants the united country to be under theirs. Seriously how old are you? You don't seem very bright.
That is irrelevant to our conversation, and also incorrect. USA is North Korea's sworn enemy. North Korea's goal is the same as South Korea's, a peaceful reunification. The only country standing in the way is USA, that is why North Korea acts are so hostile about developing nuclear weapons.