Mark Spitz is by far one of  the most accomplished swimmers in American history.  In his career, Spitz won five Pan American golds, 31 US Amateur Athletic Union titles, eight US national Collegiate Athletic Association titles and set 33 world records.  Mark was named World Simmer of the Year in 1969, 1971 and 1972, but his most glorious accomplishment came in the 1972 Olympic games.

On this day, September 4th, in 1972, Mark Spitz became the first ever athlete to win 7 Olympic gold medals. Not only did Spitz win 7 gold medals in the Munich games, but he also set a record in all seven of the events.   Spitz’s medals/records came in the 100 m freestyle, 200 m freestyle, the 100 m butterfly, 200 m butterfly, 4 x 100 m freestyle relay, 4 x 200 m freestyle relay, and the 4 x 100 m medley relay.

Sptiz gold medal record was untouched for more than three decades and was only finally passed by Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  To date, there are only four other Olympic athletes in history to win nine or more career gold medals.