“I walked away from the sport for 17 years, then started swimming again recently in a master's program.” YearsSportsMastersProgramSwimming Author:Mark Spitz
“I always wanted to be a dentist from the time I was in high school, and I was accepted to dental school in the spring of 1972. I was planning to go, but after the Olympics there were other opportunities.” WantedSchoolOpportunitySportsSpringHigh SchoolAcceptedPlanningOlympicsDentistDental Author:Mark Spitz
“By making a comeback, I'm changing the attitude of people toward me. If I'd known that people would react so enthusiastically, I'd have done it years ago.” PeopleIfsYearsDoneSportsAttitudeKnownYears AgoComeback Author:Mark Spitz
“I got beat real hard and heavy in the Olympic Games in 1968 by a guy who swam an incredible race one time in his whole life, but he did it right at the right time. I'd like to be that guy now. Maybe that's what I'm going to have to pull out of my hat to make the Olympic team.” RealHardWholeGuyGamesSportsRaceTeamBeatsIncrediblesHeavyWhole LifeHatsOne TimeRight TimeThat GuyOlympic Games Author:Mark Spitz
“I wasn't able to lower my cholesterol so they put me on a statin drug. It is called lipitor. I was able to lower my level in about 30 days from above 300 to below 200.” AbleLevelsDrugCholesterol Author:Mark Spitz
“Past performance speaks a tremendous amount about one's ability and likelihood for success.” PastSuccessSpeakSportsAbilityAmountPerformancesLikelihood Author:Mark Spitz
“I am going to sit there and watch Michael Phelps break my record anonymously? That's almost demeaning to me. It is not almost - it is.” WatchesBreakRecordsDemeaning Author:Mark Spitz
“In my day, at 12 years old, which was 38 years ago, we worked out in summer months for two and a half hours. Today someone in that age group might work out for four hours, two hours in the morning and two at night” YearsTwoMightAgeTodayNightSportsHoursHalfMorningFourGroupsMonthsSummerYears AgoWork OutHalf Hours Author:Mark Spitz
“One of the most difficult things for people who have been successful in sports is adapting to the daily world where you can't get an answer from someone until 5 o'clock tomorrow. There is always an excuse. Living 40 or 50 years like that doesn't get too exciting after a while” PeopleWorldYearsHas BeensSportsDifficultAnswersSuccessfulTomorrowExcitingExcuseClockDifficult ThingsAdapting Author:Mark Spitz