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• American swimmer Mark Spitz holds the record for most gold medals in a single Olympic Games which he set at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. During the games, Spitz won 7 gold medals. Swimmer Michael Phelps broke Spitz's record at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

  Spitz released a statement in support of Phelps in February 2009 just days after a British newspaper published photos of Phelps taking a hit from a bong. Spitz told US Magazine, "As strictly a fan, I feel badly for Michael and the situation he has put himself in. I think no one would wish this on anyone, especially the person that gave us a summer like no other in 2008. I hope this only leads to a better tomorrow for him and his family."US Magazine: Mark Spitz... (February 2, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Birth name: Mark Andrew Spitz
  2. Birth date: February 10, 1950
  3. Birthplace: Modesto, California
  4. Residence: Los Angeles, California
  5. Strokes: Freestyle, Butterfly
  6. Inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1977
  7. Olympic medals: 11 total
  8. Set 26 World and 35 U.S. Records

• Spitz Snubbed

  In 2008, 23-year-old Michael Phelps broke Spitz's gold medal count record at the Beijing Olympics. Although Spitz has stated that he has no hard feelings towards Phelps, he is unhappy that he was not invited to the Olympics. As a result, Spitz has refused to attend the games.

• Quotes

  "There's nothing better in the world, when you're trying to be the best in the world, than to actually say, 'I am the world record holder. I am the best in the world." — ESPN Sports Century Series

  "Goggles were not allowed. A cap was allowed, but I chose not to wear one. I grew the mustache because a coach in college said I couldn't grow one." — August 16, 2004 Time article: "10 Questions For Mark Spitz"

  "I never got invited. You don't go to the Olympics just to say, I am going to go. Especially because of who I am...I am going to sit there and watch Michael Phelps break my record anonymously? That's almost demeaning to me. It is not almost – it is" — August 11, 2008, after not being invited to the 2008 Summer Olympics

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Michael Phelps | Phelps Breaks Spitz Record | Jackie Joyner-Kersee | Carl Lewis | Mary Lou Retton | Olympics | Summer Olympics 2008

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