Star Swimmers

OUT OF RETIREMENT AND INTO CAREERISM

Matt Biondi, U.S.

After Mark Spitz won seven gold medals at Munich in 1972, he retired into legendhood -- save for a brief belly flop back into racing last year. Matt Biondi, who took relay gold in Los Angeles in 1984 and seven medals, five gold, in Seoul in 1988, retired too. But he unretired a lot quicker. His passion the past four years has been to create career opportunities for mature swimmers like him -- seeking stipends and commercial sponsorship so post- collegiate athletes can hang on. He succeeded. His six-figure income reflects prize...

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