Russian swimmers tricked into growing moustaches by cunning British Olympic hero

Swimming legend Mark Spitz has revealed how he won his seven gold medals and world records at the 1972 Olympics – by tricking rivals into growing moustaches!

US star Spitz, 72, turned in one of the all-time great Olympic performances in Munich – and added to the two gold medals he's won in Mexico four years previously. Indeed, his efforts in Germany remained a record for 36 years, until compatriot Michael Phelps won eight golds in Beijing.

But the success of Spitz wasn't just down to sheer ability and dedication to training. In fact, central to his success was a canny trick that he played on his Russian rivals.

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In an interview with The Times, Spitz explained that he goaded his opponents to growing moustaches – and they took it hook, line and sinker: "I went to the Olympic trials and everyone was talking about the moustache, so I said, ‘I’m not shaving it off.'" he explained.

"I had intentions (of shaving) when I went to Munich, but then I went to the swimming pool for one last training session. "I wasn’t supposed to be there, because we’d used up our quota of sessions, and the Russians were there, but they said I could use the outside lane.

"When I got out of the pool, the Russian coach asked whether my moustache slowed me down. I said, ‘No, it deflects the water from my mouth, that’s why I broke the world record a few weeks ago. I’m not shaving it off.’"

Was Mark Spitz's moustache tactic the greatest sporting trick of all time? Let us know in the comments section.

In the year that followed, the Russians clearly didn't research the apparent theory of Spitz: "The next year, I had to smile when I saw that all the Russian male swimmers had moustaches. Even though I’d decided I was going to shave it off in Munich, I decided just to go with it. And I’m glad I did.”

The facial hair didn't do him any harm, but the icon retired after the Munich games at the age of only 22. He instead opted to cash in on his endorsement deals – which at the time meant an instant ban from competing in the Olympics.

At 41, he attempted a comeback for the 1992 Games in Barcelona after a filmmaker offered him a million dollars if he succeeded in qualifying. It didn't come off through, with Spitz – minus a moustache – some two seconds outside of qualifying.

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