Often referred to as 'Beanpole' what nationality was swimmer Michael Gross?
Michael Gross (swimmer) 4×200-meter freestyle relay race became one of the marquee events of the games, with Gross leading the German relay against the underdog American squad. Despite the fact that Gross swam the fastest relay leg in the event's history, the American team pulled off the upset, earning the title of the "Grossbusters." Gross won a total of thirteen medals at the World Championships (including five gold), fifteen gold medals at the European Championships and was elected German "Athlete of the Year" four times (1982, 1983, 1984 and 1988). He retired from professional swimming in 1991. He is featured in Bud Greenspan's
Michael Gross (swimmer) "16 Days of Glory", the documentary film of the 1984 Summer Olympics. American gold medalist swimmer John Naber remarked to "Sports Illustrated" in 1984 that if Michael Gross were an American, he would have won six or seven medals, and that Gross was better than Mark Spitz. Gross was named Male World Swimmer of the Year by "Swimming World Magazine" in 1985, and inducted to the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1995. He holds a PhD in philosophy. Michael Gross (swimmer) Michael Groß (born 17 June 1964), usually spelled Michael Gross in English, is a former competitive swimmer from