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Michael Gross (Swimmer)

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Swimmer

The Resume

    (June 17, 1964- )
    Born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
    Won Olympic gold medals in the 200-meter freestyle (1984), 100-meter butterfly (1984) and 200-meter butterfly (1988)
    Won silver medals in the 200-meter butterfly (1984) and 4x200-meter freestyle relay (1984)
    Won a bronze medal in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay (1988)
    Won five gold medals at the World Championships
    Won 15 gold medals at the European Championships
    Held world records in the 100-meter butterfly (1984-86), 200-meter butterfly (1983-84,1985-91) and 200-meter freestyle (1983-88)

Why he might be annoying:

    He shares a name with the dad from Family Ties.
    He wanted to become a Lufthansa pilot, but at 6'7 was too tall.
    He was nicknamed 'Albatross' for his 7'4 wingspan.
    He had an often adversarial relationship with the German press, peaking in hostility when he skipped the awards banquet after being named the country's Sportsman of the Year (1982).

Why he might not be annoying:

    At the 1983 European Championships, he set three world records over five days despite having been laid up with the flu until a week before the meet.
    He was the first male swimmer since Mark Spitz to simultaneously hold world records for two different strokes.
    His attitude was, 'I do my best, and if someone is better than me in the race, I still do not worry about him because I have done my best. If you know this, you will be always happy.'
    After retiring from swimming, he earned a doctorate and started his own public relations firm in Frankfurt.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 28 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 21 Votes: 61.90% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying