Spitz Now 0-2 in His Comeback; Biondi Wins Easily

Mark Spitz’s second attempt at diving back into competitive swimming was another belly-flop Saturday. This time, Matt Biondi left the 41-year-old in his wake in a 50-meter match race at the Mission Viejo International Sports Complex.

Biondi, the silver medalist in the 100-meter butterfly in the 1988 Olympics, touched the wall in 24.51, two seconds ahead of Spitz. He won $35,000 and Spitz took home $15,000.

Spitz did manage to trim .19 of a second off his time from two weeks ago when he lost a similar race to Tom Jager, but he couldn’t point to a bad start as the reason for swimming slow. After an unusually lengthy wait on the blocks while holding for the cue from ABC, which televised the event, Spitz got off to a better start than Biondi.

It didn’t take the 25-year-old Biondi long to blow past Spitz, however.

“I’m a little disappointed with the time, but at least I was in the hunt halfway,” Spitz said. “About halfway, I glanced over and noticed I wasn’t as far behind as last time, but then I think I scrambled a little toward the end and lost my stroke composure.”

Biondi, whose stroke appeared as long and relaxed as ever, said he was “very unhappy” with his start.

“I guess the long wait set me back a little,” he said. “In a 50, getting off the blocks is everything.”

Well, maybe not everything, especially when you’re racing a guy 16 years your senior. Spitz, however, said he doesn’t consider the defeat a setback and has no intention of abandoning his attempt to make the 1992 Olympic team.