Tall, dark, goggle-less and, most crucially of all, moustached, Mark Spitz is one of the most instantly recognisable Olympic athletes of all time. At the Munich 1972 Games the swimmer won seven gold medals in a scarcely believable seven world-record times. According to the man himself, his legendary performances were not wholly unexpected, goggles are over-rated, and the moustache was key. 

Gary Hall Senior won medals at three Olympic Games and held numerous world records, but on one late-August day in 1972, it was Hall’s friend, clubmate and fellow competitor, Mark Spitz, who set the sporting world alight, as Hall explains…

Munich 1972-SPITZ Mark (USA) 1st.

Munich 1972-Swimming-SPITZ Mark (USA).

Munich 1972-SPITZ Mark (USA), DEARDRUFF Deena Diana (USA), HALL Gary Wayne (USA)

Munich 1972-SPITZ Mark (USA), DEARDRUFF Deena Diana (USA), HALL Gary Wayne (USA)

Munich 1972-HALL Gary W. (USA) 2nd and SPITZ Mark (USA) 1st

Mexico 1968-RUSSEL Douglas (USA) 1st, SPITZ Mark (USA)2nd, WALES Ross (USA) 3rd.