“I ended up having the most marvelous years at Indiana University. And that helped my own confidence immensely,” Spitz said. IndianaSwimDive USASwimming
David Woods, Indianapolis StarAfter: The darkest moment in recorded sports history, terror and tragedy ending splendor and joy of Munich 1972.The seventh came in the 400-meter medley relay. It was Sept. 4, 1972.
Spitz told him the public would not remember Schollander. Spitz said everybody remembers Jim Thorpe and Jesse Owens. In four college seasons, Spitz won eight individual NCAA titles. As he was a perfect 7-of-7 in Munich, the Hoosiers were a perfect 4-of-4 in NCAA team championships. The Mexico City memory “haunted” him, he said. Before those Olympics, he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. There was talk of four, five, even six gold medals. He held world records in the 100- and 200-meter butterfly, after all.Doug Russell, who had lost to Spitz in nine previous races, won the 100 butterfly in an Olympic record of 55.9 seconds. Spitz took silver in 56.4.“It was shocking,” Spitz said. “And I was thinking, ‘I’m the fastest in this event on the planet.
The 200 butterfly was Spitz’s least favorite event, but he talked himself into thinking it was best to swim it first. U.S. coach Peter Daland of USC suggested the 200 fly would set a tone for the entire team. Spitz conceded winning could springboard him into history, and losing could derail him as it did four years before.
At 50 meters, Spitz already led by three-fourths of a body length. He lowered the world record to 2:00.70, a time so fast even Hall, accustomed to Spitzian feats, was astounded. In an era in which world records fell regularly, this one lasted nearly four years. Spitz led through 50 meters but was overtaken by Genter at the midpoint and still trailed at 150. Genter’s stitches had ripped open at the second turn, but not until 25 meters remained did Spitz pass him for good. Spitz lowered the world record for a fourth time, to 1:52.78, and beat Genter by nearly a full second. It was Spitz’s third gold in two days, overcoming Genter’s against-all-odds swim.
Edgar started fastest but was overtaken at the turn by Spitz, who built a lead of half a body length. Spitz broke the 100 fly world record for the seventh time, to 54.27, followed by Robertson and Heidenreich. It was Spitz’s fourth gold, tying Schollander’s record. After he told Daland he might not swim the 100 free, the U.S. coach approached Sherm Chavoor, coach of the women’s team and one of Spitz’s former coaches.“You’re going to swim that damn event because nobody is going to recognize you as the best swimmer in the world unless you win that event — because that was the premier event. There were 15 contested men’s events.
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