Passages: Mike Stamm, 1972 Olympic Champion and World-Record Holder, 73 One of the world’s top backstrokers in the 1970s passed away late last month. Mike Stamm died June 24 in Costa Rica following a brief hospitalization. He was 73 years old. Stamm, who swam at Indiana University, held the world record in the 200 backstroke in 1970 before winning three Olympic medals two years later in Munich.