Holder of 10 world records already Spitz predicted brashly he would win six golds at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. However, he won only two team golds: the 4 x 100 meter freestyle, and the 4 x 200 meter freestyle relays. In addition, Spitz finished 2nd in the 100 m butterfly. In this event he was beaten by fellow American Doug Russell by 1/2 a second despite holding the world record and having beaten Russell in the previous 10 times they had swam against each other in that year.[2] Russell did briefly match Spitz's world record in late August of 1967, holding the world record equally with Spitz for five days before Spitz regained it solely on October 2 1967.
As a result of being beaten by Russell, Spitz did not get to swim in the 4 x 100 m Medley Relay which gave Russell his second Gold medal and the USA team another World Record swim. He also finished third in the 100 m freestyle at the same games.
At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich (West Germany), Spitz was back to maintain his bid for the six gold medals. He did even more, winning seven Olympic gold medals, a feat still unequaled by any other athlete in a single Olympiad. Further, Spitz set a new world record in each of the seven events (the 100 m freestyle, 200 m freestyle, 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).
Spitz became one of only four Olympic greats to win nine career gold medals, together with Larissa Latynina, Paavo Nurmi, and Carl Lewis.[3] At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Michael Phelps briefly joined the elite group, until he surpassed them by winning his 10th and 11th career gold medals, only a day after his ninth.
Yes Spitz was great. But I think that Phelps’ performances are already greater whether he wins 8 golds or not. The level of competition from around the word is much greater today in 2008 than it was in 1972. There are many more countries who are serious about swimming. In 1972 you had the United States and Australia winning almost every event. Today we have tremendous competition from all over the world. The Chinese are very good was well as the South Koreans and the Japanese. Also the countries in Europe are much stronger in swimming than they were in 1972.