Mark Spitz is a nine-time Olympic champion and former competitive swimmer from Modesto, California. Furthermore, Mark Spitz is also known as Mark the Pool Shark.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Mark Andrew Spitz |
| Common Name | Mark Spitz |
| Date of Birth | February 10, 1950 |
| Place of Birth | Modesto, California, United States |
| Nickname | “Mark the Shark” |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Father’s Name | Arnold Spitz |
| Mother’s Name | Lenore Sylvia Spitz |
| Siblings | One |
| Local Swim Club | Santa Clara High School |
| University | Indiana University |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Age | 73 |
| Height | 6 feet (1.82 m) |
| Weight | 83 kg (182 lb) |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Hair color | Black |
| Build | Athletic |
| Body Measurement | Unknown |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Suzy Weiner (married in 1973) |
| Children | Two Sons, Matthew and Justin |
| Profession | Professional Swimmer |
| Stroke | Butterfly, freestyle |
| Active Year | 1965-1972 |
| Coach | Sherm Chavoor, Doc Counsilman |
| National Team | United States |
| College Team | Indiana |
| Net Worth | $20 Million |
Mark Spitz Biography
Mark Spitz was born on February 10, 1950, in Modesto, California, USA. His birth sign is Aquarius, and he is 73 years old. Furthermore, his given name is Mark Andrew Spitz. Arnold Spitz is his father’s name, and Lenore Sylvia is his mother’s (Smith). Furthermore, his family is Jewish, with his father from Hungary and his mother from Russia, bearing the surname “Sklotkovick.”
When he was two years old, his father relocated to Honolulu, Hawaii. He swam at Waikiki Beach every day while in Hawaii. When he was six years old, his family relocated to Sacramento, California. He began competing at his local swim club during this time. When he was fourteen, his family relocated to Santa Clara once more. He was also the eldest of the three children.
Mark Spitz Education
From 1964 to 1968, he attended and graduated from Santa Clara High School. Throughout these four years, he set national high school records in every stroke and distance. Later, he attended Indiana University as a re-dental student and member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity from 1968 to 1972.
Mark Spitz Height And Weight
Mark Spitz is 6 feet tall and weighs 73 kilograms. His hair is gray, and his eyes are brown. Aside from that, no information about his other body measurements is available.
Career
Mark Spitz began competing at his local swim club in Sacramento, California when he was six years old. He began training with swimming coach Sherm Chavoor at Arden Hills Swim Club in Sacramento when he was nine years old. When he was ten years old, he held one world age-group record and seventeen national records. At fourteen years old, he began training at the Santa Clara Swim Club under the direction of George F Haines.
From 1964 to 1968, he trained with Haines at SCSC and Santa Clara High School. Furthermore, at the age of sixteen, he won the 100-meter butterfly at the AAU national championships in 1966. The following year, at a small California, meet, he set his first world record in the 400-meter freestyle with a time of 4:10.60. In 1965, he made his international competition debut at the Maccabiah Games.
He won four gold medals and was named the tournament’s most outstanding athlete. He won five gold medals at the 1967 Pan American Games, breaking the world record at the time. He trained hard for the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, expecting to win six gold medals. However, he did not perform well and only managed to win two team gold medals in the 4100 and 4200 meter freestyle relays.
He also won a silver medal in the 100-meter butterfly and a bronze medal in the 100-meter freestyle. After his disappointing Olympic experience, he enrolled at Indiana University as a pre-dental student and trained under legendary Indiana Hoosiers swimming coach Doc Counsilman. Furthermore, with Counsilman’s help, he improved his form and was ready for the 1972 Olympics.
He made history by winning seven Olympic gold medals in single and team competitions at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. In addition, he set a new world record in each of the seven events. However, he announced his retirement shortly after his Olympic achievements, which catapulted him to the status of sporting superstar. He had also secured lucrative commercial opportunities by 1974, earning $6 million from endorsements and other business ventures. With the passage of time, his popularity began to wane, and he began to pursue other interests. He appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour” on television from 1973 to 1974. He also appeared in several commercials for Schick razors.
He joined ABC Sports in 1976 and worked on a variety of sports shows, including coverage of the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics and the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. After working as a broadcaster for a few years, he decided to pursue a career in real estate. Furthermore, he has worked on a number of entrepreneurial projects with former NBA player Rick Barry over the years. He also achieved considerable success as a motivational speaker.
Mark Spitz Net Worth
Mark Spitz was named World Swimmer of the Year by “Swimming World” magazine in 1967, 1971, and 1972. In 1971, he also received the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States. In addition, in 1972, he was named the Associated Press Athlete of the Year in swimming.
In 1979, he was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, in 1977 into the Swimming Hall of Fame, and in 1983 into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame. He is also a nine-time Olympic champion, having won nine gold medals, one silver, and one bronze.
Mark Spitz won the gold medal at the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics (Source: Instagram) He has made a fortune from his professional swimming career and other business ventures. As of March 2024, His net worth is estimated to be around $20 million US dollars. However, no further information about his salary is available.
Mark Spitz Wife, Marriage
Suzy Weiner, a UCLA theater student and part-time model, began dating Mark Spitz. Suzy was also the daughter of his father’s business acquaintance. On May 6, 1973, less than a year after the Munich Olympics, he and Suzy married in a traditional Jewish wedding at the Beverly Hills Hotel. He and Suzy also have two sons, Matthew and Justin. He and his wife Suzy have relocated to Los Angeles, California.
When it comes to rumors and controversy, he hasn’t been a part of them until now. Aside from that, he is preoccupied with his personal and professional lives. Furthermore, he prefers to stay away from rumors and controversy.
