Mark Spitz Shows He Still Has It by Following Katie Ledecky’s Balancing Act

19th April 1978: Mark Spitz who won seven gold medals for swimming in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. (Photo by Graham Morris/Evening Standard/Getty Images)

Mark Spitz Shows He Still Has It by Following Katie Ledecky’s Balancing Act

Nearly 50 years after he made Olympic history at the 1972 Games in Munich, Mark Spitz still enjoys a challenge. Answering Katie Ledecky’s recent effort of swimming without spilling the glass of chocolate milk she was balancing on her head, Spitz showed he still has impressive form. The 11-time Olympic medalist posted a video to his Twitter account on Saturday that showed him balancing a glass of water while he swam in a backyard pool.

Ledecky’s feat was mesmerizing and has prompted copycat efforts, with Spitz taking part in the fun at 70 years old. With the COVID-19 pandemic postponing the Olympic Games in Tokyo to 2021, it has been nice to see some big-name swimmers enjoy themselves, and give fans of the sport something to smile about.

After completing his length of the pool, Spitz removes the glass from his head, pours the water into the pool and states, “I did it.” Was there really any doubt one of the best swimmers in the history of the sport could pull it off?

This summer marks the 48th anniversary of Spitz winning seven gold medals and setting seven world records at the 1972 Olympics. During that meet, Spitz won individual titles in the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly, and contributed to three triumphant American relays. Four years earlier, Spitz won four medals at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

Spitz’s name recently appeared frequently during Swimming World’s League of Olympic Legends series, in which we looked at the greatest performers in each event over the years. In the overall scoring, Spitz finished in the second position, behind Michael Phelps. It was Phelps, of course, who broke Spitz’s record by winning eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

pic.twitter.com/ZGZlJ4TiBK

— Mark Spitz (@markspitzusa) August 9, 2020

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Jason Swantek

3 years ago

Peggy Wisette Swantek

John Hoskins

3 years ago

Even the greatest of all times has it going on.

Isabelle

3 years ago

Reply to John Hoskins

That’s okay but she went twice as far.

David Zimmerman

3 years ago

Reply to Isabelle

Sure, but he is three times as old and fifty years since his prime.

Kevin

3 years ago

Reply to Isabelle

She also had a snorkel, which greatly increases potential distance. 🙂

I’m impressed by both. I was able to do something similar doing backstroke back in the 90’s it was a standard drill we would do at times, but also a lot easier with that stroke.