Mark Andrew Spitz (born February 10, 1950) is an American former competitive swimmer and nine-time Olympic champion. He was the most successful athlete at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, winning seven gold medals, all in world record time. This was an achievement that lasted for 36 years until it was surpassed by fellow American Michael Phelps, who won eight golds at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Spitz swam in his first international competition at the 1965 Maccabiah Games. At age 15 in Tel Aviv, he won four gold medals and was named the most outstanding athlete.

He returned to Israel in 1969 following the Mexico Olympics to again compete in the Maccabiah Games. This time, he won six gold medals. He was again named outstanding athlete of the Games.

1999, Spitz ranked No. 33 on ESPN Sports Century 50 Greatest Athletes, the only aquatic athlete to make the list.

Between 1968 and 1972, Spitz won nine Olympic golds, a silver, and a bronze, in addition to five Pan American golds, 31 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) titles and eight National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) titles. During those years, he set 35 world records, two of which were in trials and unofficial. 'Swimming World Magazine' named him World Swimmer of the Year in 1969, 1971, and 1972.

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