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Spitz Starts Life as Second-Greatest

Posted Aug 21, 08 7:37 AM CDT in Sports 

(Newser) – Outspoken and prickly in the best of times, Mark Spitz is slowly adjusting to being the second-greatest Olympian of all time, the Wall Street Journal reports. Mustering a little grace for the occasion, Spitz says he's relieved at the downgrade. "He's got the burden of inspiring the youth as they go forward," Spitz says. "That is a relief."

Spitz made most of his income since the Munich Olympics from his greatest-Olympian status, although his personality kept him from the global megastardom that could now await Phelps. And while it remains to be seen if his No. 2 status will still be bankable, he seems untroubled by passing on the torch."It's Michael's time now," he says, though he notes Phelps' pose on Sports Illustrated mimicked his own. "Maybe one way or another, he's stuck with me."

Source Wall Street Journal

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In this Aug. 31, 1972, file photo, American swimmer Mark Spitz holds five of the seven gold medals he won at the Olympics in Munich, Germany.   (AP Photo/Pool, File)
In this August 1972 file photo, United States' Mark Spitz at the Olympic Pool in Munich, West Germany.   (AP Photo)
In this 1972 file photo, Mark Spitz, bottom, surges ahead of Great Britain's Brian Brinkley to win the fourth heat of the 200-meter butterfly event in Munich.   (AP Photo)
Olympic champion Mark Spitz holds up an issue of Sports Illustrated with Michael Phelps on the cover is during a press event in New York, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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Mark Spitz talks about the Olympics.   (wpix)

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What I'm thinking now is, he's got the burden of inspiring the youth as they go forward. That is a relief. - Mark Spitz on Michael Phelps

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2008 Beijing Olympics • swimming • Michael Phelps • world record • USA Swimming • Olympians • Mark Spitz


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