Spitz Comeback Continues Today in Mission Viejo

Mark Spitz waited almost 20 years to attempt a comeback, trained for 19 months and then, in about 25 seconds, Tom Jager seemed to put to rest any question about the 41-year-old’s ability to compete on a world-class level.

Today, however, Spitz will try again, swimming in another 50-meter butterfly match race at the Mission Viejo International Sports Complex. Two weeks ago, Spitz lost to Jager by 1 1/2 body lengths, a huge margin in a 50-meter sprint.

Spitz will race Matt Biondi today, he needs to improve both his start and stroke if he hopes to stay close to the 1988 Olympic 100-meter butterfly silver medalist.

The race, which will be televised live in the East on “ABC’s Wide World of Sports,” is scheduled for about 2 p.m.