Mark Spitz: The Extraordinary Life of an Olympic Champion
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Book Overview
Mark Spitz is arguably the most famous and successful Olympic athlete of all time because of his legendary performances at the 1972 Olympics, where he won seven gold medals while breaking seven world records. His amazing life story is told for the first time in the authorized biography Mark Spitz: The Extraordinary Life of an Olympic Champion. This exclusive account follows Spitz's roller-coaster career: age-group prodigy, four-medal "flop" at the 1968 Olympics, outstanding collegiate career at Indiana University, gold-medal haul in 1972, lucrative endorsements, and a brief and unsuccessful stint in entertainment. And the meatier stories--the role his father played in his career, his often stormy relationship with coaches and teammates, his experiences as a Jewish athlete with anti-Semitism and the Munich massacre, his impact on the commercialization of swimming, his relationship with Michael Phelps, and others--have been largely unknown, ignored, barely touched upon, or distorted. Mark Spitz: The Extraordinary Life of an Olympic Champion provides insights into Spitz's career, behind-the-scenes anecdotes about him and his competitors, and untold stories that shed light on his complicated personality and relationship with his father. Old and new fans alike will appreciate the depth and details of this swimming icon's story.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:1595800395
ISBN13:9781595800398
Release Date:July 2008
Publisher:Santa Monica Press
Length:288 Pages
Weight:1.29 lbs.
Dimensions:0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"
Customer Reviews
4 ratings
A page-turning biography
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
I totally agree with the previous reviewers. As a middle-of-the-road recreational swimmer, I heard of Spitz for the first time only last month and never thought that this biography would keep me busy, not least because the genre itself isn't a great favourite of mine (I own just a handful of biographies). All I can say is that, despite Phelps' success in surpassing Spitz by winning 8 gold medals, I hardly think he can ever equal his predecessor's charismatic personality and (to quote the subtitle) 'extraordinary life'. Though it's a pity the photos are reproduced in b/w, I recommend this book without hesitation. You don't have to have an interest in swimming or sports in general to own it: if 'story' is what interests you, Spitz's story won't fail to move you.
Wow!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
I'm not an athlete, but I really enjoyed reading this book. Mark Spitz' extraordinary career is great on its own, but the fabulous references to historical events of the time made this a very interesting read. I read it in three sittings and wished there was more.
Bravo
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
Fascinating read not just for swimmers but anyone who loves sports. Foster chronicles Spitz's life with verve and accuracy.
Mark Spitz: The Extraordinary Life of an Olympic Champion
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
Great book on this Olympic icon. Very timely with the Olympics coming up. Don't have to be a sports fan to enjoy this book. Spitz was an amazing athlete and person and this book presents a lot of previously unkown stories about him.
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