Athletes Struggle in Olympics Afterglow

Aug. 29, 2008— -- For more than two weeks this summer, American athletes competing in the Beijing Summer Olympics thrilled and charmed millions from coast to coast.

Now that they're back, lots of them are again going for the gold. Only this time, the gold will be in their pockets.

Who can blame gold medalists for trying to make the most of their post-Olympic celebrity? After all, those doors have already been opened for them.

Today Mark Spitz is an entrepreneur and spokesman for Botox and a pharmaceutical benefits management company called Medco. Back in 1972, he won seven gold medals in swimming, a record that was eclipsed a few weeks ago by phenom Michael Phelps. Spitz's achievement more than 30 years ago instantly made him a national icon.

Although he was already in dental school, he never returned, choosing instead to make the most of his newfound fame. Spitz accepted many of the post-Olympics deals that were immediately offered. But he still recalls the one that got away -- a $1 million offer to shave off his now signature mustache.

"A million bucks in 1972 is more than a million bucks today. The caveat to that is that the taxes were like 72 percent, so it was harder to keep the money," Spitz said.

But we become obsessed with our Olympians every few years, only to forget most of them not long after. And the average Olympian is so focused on winning an event that they're often ill-prepared for the morning after.