According to the new Spitz biography - he worked very hard to get fast during his comeback. He also suffered a back injury during his training, and he ended up losing 30 lbs or so from where he started.
Spitz was beaten soundly in the TV races - especially with his old school flat starts. Let's remember that after the 1972 Olympics Spitz really did retire. He did not stay active like other have today. So in spite of fantastic skill he couldn't erase all of the effects of a 17 year layoff.
I think unless Phelps bombs in Beijing he will easily be considered the all around best male swimmer until someone else comes along. He says he will race through 2012 so his dominance may continue for four more years but with a reduced event schedule. As good as Spitz was, his excellence was most apparent over a shorter career than Phelps - and marked by less versatility.
According to the new Spitz biography - he worked very hard to get fast during his comeback. He also suffered a back injury during his training, and he ended up losing 30 lbs or so from where he started.
Spitz was beaten soundly in the TV races - especially with his old school flat starts. Let's remember that after the 1972 Olympics Spitz really did retire. He did not stay active like other have today. So in spite of fantastic skill he couldn't erase all of the effects of a 17 year layoff.
I think unless Phelps bombs in Beijing he will easily be considered the all around best male swimmer until someone else comes along. He says he will race through 2012 so his dominance may continue for four more years but with a reduced event schedule. As good as Spitz was, his excellence was most apparent over a shorter career than Phelps - and marked by less versatility.
