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- The first time Michael heard about Mark Spitz was after his 16th birthday. His mother, by contrast, has been a big fan of his since childhood. A framed poster of the swimmer hung in her family’s home.
- Michael has won the Kiphuth Award as the best swimmer at the U.S. Summer Nationals three years running (2001, 2002 and 2003). The award is given in honor of former Yale swim coach Bob Kiphuth.
- In 2001, at age 15, Michael became the youngest world record holder in swimming’s modern history.
- At the World Championships in 2003, Michael became the first man ever to set two world records in two different events on the same day: 51.47 seconds in the 100-meter butterfly and 1:56:04 in the 200-meter individual medley.
- In 2003, Michael won the Sullivan Award as the nation’s best amateur athlete. The last swimmer to be so honored was Janet Evans in 1989.
- After the 2004 Olympics, the city of Baltimore named a street after Michael.
- Michael was named the 2004 Golden Goggles U.S. Male Swimmer of the Year.
- Michael listens to rap music before races. His favorite artist is Eminem, and he gets pumped up by DMX's "Party Up" and MAC 10's "Connected for Life."
- Among Michael’s favorites are: football (sport to watch), basketball (sport to play), Baltimore Ravens (pro team), SportsCenter (tv show), Denzel Washington (actor), Cameron Diaz (actress), Michael Jordan (athlete) and To Kill a Mockingbird (book). He’s also likes video games, including NHL HITZ.
- Michael is a huge
fan of the late Chris Farley. He can recite every line from the movie
“Tommy Boy.”
Michael’s nickname is “Iron Mike.” - One of Michael’s heroes is Pablo Morales, the 1992 Olympic champion in the 100m butterfly.
- Michael’s appearance fee starts at $15,000.
- Michael drives a used Cadillac Escalade. He customized it with a stereo system, three TVs and an X-Box. He bought a Mercedes-Benz ML320 SUV for his mother.
- Michael once met Cindy Crawford. He was so nervous he could barely speak.
- Michael is a national spokesman for Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He’s also an honorary board member of the Boys & Girl Club of Harford County, Maryland, and Pathfinders for Autism.
Mark Spitz, 1992
Collect-A-Card
Janet Evans, 1992
Classic
Pablo Morales, 1996
SI for Kids