Mark Spitz: Loser of Records, Winner of Style
By Saxon Baird - Aug 14th, 2008 at 10:52 amThe Guardian reports that Mark Spitz, the nine-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer and, for the time being, the record-holder for most gold medals won in a single Olympics (he won seven at the 1972 games in Munich), feels a bit snubbed by the International Olympic Committee, which didn’t invite him to Beijing this year. Spitz, who until Michael Phelps broke it also used to share the record for most total career gold medals won, wanted to be in Beijing to help present Phelps with his record-breaking eighth gold in a single Olympics if and when he wins it:
“I never got invited,” Spitz said to a reporter in Hong Kong earlier this week. “You don’t go to the Olympics just to say, ‘I am going to go’ - especially because of who I am. [Am I] going to sit there and watch Michael Phelps break my record anonymously? That’s almost demeaning to me. It is not almost - it is.”
While it’s unfortunate that Spitz could not be on hand for Phelps’ incredible display of athleticism, at least Spitz can take comfort in on thing he has over Phelps: style.
Spitz: Your style rocks, man. It has now been appropriated by millions of indie-rockers and French electro-musicians. You set a standard to which we all still aspire. In fact, since I am in D.C., I think I might propose a national “Spitz ‘Stache Week” in your honor when Congress reconvenes. It will temporarily suspend workplace facial-hair regulations, allowing hardworking Americans everywhere to spend an entire week not shaving their facial hair–as long as it’s in the shape of the legendary Spitz ’stache.
Killer Speedos too, dude. You should hook up with American Apparel. I bet they would be down to create a new line of swimwear based on that design.
Seconded.
August 14th, 2008 at 12:26 pmI’d totally let Spitz touch my bathing suit area.
August 14th, 2008 at 2:17 pmImagine how much faster he could have gone with a clean upper lip. His style is obviously a priority and I really like that about him.
August 14th, 2008 at 2:47 pmPhelps should take this post as a challenge–who knows what hair-related hijinks he’d achieve if he was trying to break Spitz’s other record? I mean, picture Phelps with a killer mullet or a fu man chu. He could really do great things with his life.
August 14th, 2008 at 3:17 pmhey man, awesome post dude
August 14th, 2008 at 4:01 pmis there somewhere i can acquire a poster of that? or a cardboard cut-out perhaps?
August 14th, 2008 at 4:47 pmI don’t get it. Is the “Anchorman” look back in style?
August 14th, 2008 at 6:39 pm