Olympics 2016: Mark the Shark

Dubai - Until Phelps came along, Mark Spitz was swimming's poster boy. But his feat of seven gold medals at Munich was one of the greatest seen in the history of Olympics

In an era when swimmers were conscious of their looks and most even preferred to remove body hair, Mark Spitz was the odd man out. He swam with a moustache. "I grew the moustache because a coach in college said I couldn't grow one," Spitz said many years later.
It seemed the American loved a challenge. But little did they know that the Modesto-born swimmer would defy all challenges to become the only man in history to win seven gold medals at a single Olympics with seven world records to his name!
After showing his rare talent at several international events as well as the Pan American Games, Spitz got the first taste of Olympics in 1968 in Mexico City. Arriving at the Mexican capital at the age of 18, Spitz - holder of 10 world records - made the bold prediction that he would win six gold medals. But the event turned out to be a personal disappointment for Spitz as he had to be content with only two relay gold medals.
But champions like Spitz never lose heart. After the Mexico City Games, he decided to train with legendary coach Doc Counsilman. "It was the biggest decision of my life and the best one," he would later say.
This partnership did wonders as Spitz broke several world records in the American swimming trials for the 1972 Games, prompting his teammates to call him, 'Mark the Shark.'
So he was back at the Olympics four years later to have another go at six gold medals. He actually ended up winning seven with seven world records. "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 famously confessed minutes before attempting his seventh gold medal in the 100 metre freestyle event at the Munich Games.
With nine gold medals, Spitz became one of the most decorated Olympians of all time. And his record of seven gold medals at a single Olympics stood for 36 years until Michael Phelps won eight at the Beijing Games in 2008.
The first American athlete to earn millions from endorsements, Spitz was largely forgotten at the turn of the century. But thanks to Phelps' herculean efforts, Spitz was back in focus.
"Olympic heroes never die," he said recently. "But they do fade away gradually. Luckily for me, Phelps turned up and I was in the news again, reminding the world who I was!"