Mark Spitz Inducted into the San Jose Hall of Fame

On Wednesday, November 14, 2007, our own Mark Spitz was inducted into the San Jose Hall of Fame, joining other SCSC swimmers in that honor. SCSC is proud to have Mark Spitz at the top of our long list of great Olympic swimmers! At age 14, just as he was starting high school, Mark moved from Sacramento to Santa Clara to train with the great George Haines. He has left an indelible legacy here, and he continues to be the standard by which great swimmers are measured. From 1964 to 1968 Mark trained with Haines at SCSC and Santa Clara High School. During his four years here, Mark held national high school records in every stroke and in every distance. It was a remarkable and unprecedented achievement.

In 1966 by age 16, Mark won his first National Championship in the 100 meter butterfly. This was the first of 24 AAU titles Mark would hold during his incredible swimming career. The following year, 1967 Mark set his first world record at a small California meet, in the 400 meter freestyle, with a time of 4:10.60, and emerged on the world swimming stage. Later that same year, he won 5 gold medals at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg. By 1968, at age 18, Mark held 26 National and International titles, and had set 36 National and International records.

He finished his career at SCSC in 1968 after the Mexico City Olympics, where he won a total of 4 Olympic Medals, including 2 golds in the 400 meter and 800 meter Freestyle Relays, 1 silver medal in the 100 meter butterfly, and 1 bronze in the 100 meter freestyle.

Of course, Mark is most renowned for his unparalleled performance at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, where he was the first person to win 7 Olympic gold medals, while setting 7 world and Olympic records. That incredible feat has yet to be equaled.

Other SCSC Swimmers inducted into the SJHOF are George Haines, Donna de Varona , Claudia Kolb, Chris von Saltza, Pablo Morales, and Anne Warner Cribbs.

The SCSC tradition of excellence continues!