On This Day in 1972: Mark Spitz clinches seven gold medals at 1972 Munich Olympics

The 1972 Munich Olympics were a time of both tragedy and joy. On 5 September 1972, a horrifying incident occurred at the Olympic Games. Palestinian militants killed two Israeli athletes and kidnapped nine more. Those hostages perished within a few hours as well.

However, a different narrative was making headlines in Munich the day before the terrorist attack. It was a story of triumph, a story of a tall, dark, goggle-less and mustachioed guy, Mark Spitz who is one of the most recognizable Olympic athletes of all time.

The American swimmer set seven world records while winning seven gold medals in the 1972 Olympics in Munich. After achieving the feat, Spitz himself claimed that the moustache was essential, goggles were overrated, and his famed performances were not entirely unexpected.

By the age of 10, Spitz had already established himself as a top swimmer and was taking private swimming lessons close to his home in Sacramento, California. Later, he relocated to Santa Clara so that he could receive coaching from Olympic swim coach George Haines. He began participating in national competitions at the age of 14. By the time he was 17, he had already broken five global records and set or tied five American records.

Ahead of the 1968 Olympics, Spitz confidently predicted he would take home six gold medals. He only managed to register two victories, and they were both for team relays, not in solo events. He won a silver in 100m butterfly and a bronze in 100m freestyle. To no one’s surprise, his comment aroused much controversy. After being publicly chastised by the media for his conceit, Spitz said that it was the “worst moment” of his career.

HISTORIC! #OnThisDay 50 years ago, Mark Spitz set his first World Record at #Munich1972.