 Then at the 1966 World Rowing Championships in Bled, Yugoslavia, he became the World Single Sculls Champion, defeating the Olympic champion Ivanov.Spero was also a founder of the National Rowing Foundation in 1966, and was a director from 1967 to 1984.He was elected to the Helms/Rowing Hall of Fame in 1966, Cornell University Hall of Fame in 1984, New York Athletic Club Hall of Fame in 1986, and International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.