Oerter competed, using painkillers and ice-packs, and broke his own Olympic record in the qualifying round. Al Oerter, 1936-2007 As I was growing up, nothing in our household was bigger, when it came to sports, than the Olympics - especially the Summer Olympics. One of my very first memories watching sports was the 1968 Summer Olympics, held in Mexico City. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Who was the first athlete to run the mile in less than 4 minutes? (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images), American athlete Alfred Adolf Oerter Jr. (1936 ? Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Death 1 October 2007. Oerter, however, is the only one to set an Olympic record in each of his victories. Ganó cuatro medallas de oro en la prueba de lanzamiento de disco en los Juegos Olímpicos de Melbourne 1956, Roma 1960, Tokio 1964 y México 1968.… Al Oerter. Our unique platform shows the connection between sport, art and the Olympics and celebrates the Olympic and Paralympic athlete, while promoting Olympic ideals and values. He went on to win the gold medal. Al Oerter, who died yesterday at 71, won gold medals in four successive Olympics and set a record in his event, the discus, each time. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Al-Oerter, ESPN - SportsCentury - Three-peating wasn't enough for Oerter, Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame - Biography of Al Oerter, Al Oerter - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Al Oerter (USA) DISCUS 64.78 meters 1968 Olympics Mexico - YouTube Al His throw of sixty-one meters (200 feet, 1 1 / 3 inches) was a new Olympic record and nearly half a meter better than Danek's best toss. Born in 1936 in Astoria, Queens, New York City,[1] Al Oerter grew up in New Hyde Park and attended Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park. Olympic Gold Medalist - Discus 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968 Al Oerter is the first athlete to win the same Olympic event four times in a row and the only one to set Olympic records each time. Oerter was born Aug. 18, 1936 in Astoria and grew up in New Hyde Park, Long Island, where he … Although his original goal was to win five gold medals, Oerter retired from Olympic competition after the 1968 Games with four because of the sacrifices and pressures of being an Olympic champion. He also won the Pan-American title in 1959 and set four world records, the first of which in 1962 gave him the distinction of being the first man to record a legal throw of over 200 feet (60.96 metres). Al Oerter. He finished 5th at the TAC Championships in 1979 and 6th in 1980. £23.99. The new Olympic Channel brings you news, highlights, exclusive behind the scenes, live events and original programming, 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Mindful of his injury, he knew he had limited chances to throw in the final. Al Oerter: Athletics. The event was won by Al Oerter of the United States, the nation's fourth consecutive and 11th overall victory in the men's discus throw. Al Oerter, American discus thrower, who won four consecutive Olympic gold medals (1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968), setting an Olympic record each time. FORT MYERS, Fla. – Al Oerter, the discus great who won gold medals in four straight Olympics to become one of track and fields biggest stars in the 1950s and '60s, died Monday. He was not considered the favorite but he felt a rush during the competition and he unleashed a throw of 184 feet 22 inches (56.64 m) which, at the time, was a career best. He resumed training in 1976, however. Oerter began his Olympic career at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. Legendary discus thrower, Al Oerter was the first person in Olympic history to win four gold medals in four different Olympic Games (1956-60-64-68) and the only athlete to set Olympic records each time. Alfred Oerter, Jr. (1936 2007) was an American athlete, and a four-time Olympic Champion in the discus throw. Alfred Adolf OERTER, Alfred OERTER, Alfred OERTER JR., Al OERTER. Alfred Oerter Jr. (1936-2007) was the quintessence of Olympic clutch, winning four consecutive discus throw golds - Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964 and Mexico City 1968. Between 1956 and 1968, they were supposed to win discus gold medals in the Olympics. He was a world record holder in Masters track-and-field competition in the 1980s. BBC Olympics presenter Steve Rider highlights some of the great Olympians from the pages of history. Al never competed against others---it was a test of his own capabilities at that moment in time. 1. Stories and articles remembering the legendary life of Olympic discus thrower Al Oerter. He won gold medals in four successive Olympics and set a record in the discus event each time. Oerter heeded Babka's suggestion, adjusted his windup and threw the discus 194-2 for another Olympic record and personal best. Never before out of the United States, the 20-year-old discus thrower, was in the American squad that travelled out to Melbourne for the 1956 Olympics. Though active at a world-class level into his 40s, he fell short again in bids for the U.S. Olympic team in 1984 and 1988. THE AL OERTER FOUNDATION is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to educate the youth of the world about the values of respect, hard work and fair-play with a vision to encourage self-confidence and a passion for excellence in all avenues of life. A l Oerter was an American discus thrower that won the Olympics four-times in a row from 1956 through 1968. Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display The inside track on world sport, bringing you the latest news and interviews from the world of the Olympic, Commonwealth and Paralympic Games. Al Oerter American athlete Alfred Adolf Oerter Jr. (1936 ? Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. In 1956 the summer Olympics were held in Melbourne, Australia. Official Olympic coverage of Al OERTER. Updates? Al Oerter is a four-time Olympic champion in the discus (1956, Melbourne; 1960, Rome; 1964, Tokyo; 1968, Mexico City) and a 1981 NYAC Hall of Fame inductee. He started his Olympic career at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. Having repeated as Olympic champion at the 1960 Games in Rome, Oerter faced his toughest challenge in his attempt to win his third Olympic title, in Tokyo in 1964. Won the discus throw event in four consecutive Olympics: 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968. THE AL OERTER FOUNDATION is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to educate the youth of the world about the values of respect, hard work and fair-play with a vision to encourage self-confidence and a passion for excellence in all avenues of life. Thru each of 4 consecutive Olympic Games, discus thrower Al Oerter overcomes extreme obstacles to garner the gold medal. Signed 1953 Barbarians Rugby Football Club Autograph Book Page Northampton RFC. He began his track and field career at the age of 15 when a discus landed at his feet and he threw it back past the crowd of throwers. Jay Silvester. Fortune Gordien. Al Oerter's first trip abroad was an adventure to be remembered. He discovered his discus ability when he idly picked up the discus and threw it farther than anyone else on the track team could. In 1996 Oerter was further honored for his Olympic feats as the final torch bearer in Atlanta. AOF honors and celebrates the character, principles and ideals of the 4-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Al Oerter. Oerter became the first man to win three medals in the event, all of them gold (through the 2016 Olympics, two other men have won three medals but neither of them won three gold medals). He won gold medals in four successive Olympics and set a record in the discus event each time. His work ethic to be at his best carried him on to Olympic victories. 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