Al Oerter facts for kids
Oerter at the Rome 1960 Olympics
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Alfred Adolph Oerter Jr. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Citizenship | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | September 19, 1936 Astoria, New York, U.S. |
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| Died | October 1, 2007 (aged 71) Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height | 6 ft 3+1/2 in | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 276 lb | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Discus throw, shot put | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | New York Athletic Club | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | DT – 69.47 m (1980) SP – 17.37 m (1958) |
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Medal record
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| Updated on 12 June 2015. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alfred "Al" Oerter Jr. (born September 19, 1936 – died October 1, 2007) was an amazing American athlete. He was famous for the discus throw event. Al Oerter won four gold medals at the Olympic Games. He was the very first athlete to win a gold medal in the same individual event in four Olympics in a row! He is also a member of the IAAF Hall of Fame, which honors the best in track and field.
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Becoming an Olympic Star
Al Oerter was born in 1936 in Astoria, Queens, New York City. He grew up in New Hyde Park. He went to Sewanhaka High School. Al started his track and field journey when he was 15 years old. A discus landed near him, and he threw it back really far. This moment sparked his interest in the sport.
He earned a scholarship to the University of Kansas in 1954. There, he joined the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Al was a big person, almost 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing about 280 pounds. This made him a natural at throwing. He became the NCAA discus champion in 1957 and won again in 1958.
First Olympic Gold: Melbourne 1956
Al Oerter began his Olympic career at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Many people did not expect him to win. But during the competition, he felt a burst of energy. He threw the discus 184 feet 22 inches, which was his best throw ever at that time. This throw was good enough to win the gold medal!
Overcoming Challenges: Rome 1960
In 1957, Al's career almost ended when he was in a serious car accident. Luckily, he recovered. He was ready to compete at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy. He was a slight favorite over his teammate, Rink Babka, who held the world record.
Rink Babka was in the lead for most of the competition. Before Al's fifth throw, Babka even gave him some advice. Al then threw his discus 194 feet 2 inches, setting a new Olympic record! Babka could not beat this throw and won the silver medal.
Third Gold and Injuries: Tokyo 1964
In the early 1960s, Al Oerter continued to do well. He set his first world record in 1962. He was the first person to throw the discus over 200 feet. Everyone expected him to win a third gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
However, Al was dealing with many injuries before the Games. He had a neck injury and had to wear a neck brace. A week before the competition, he also hurt his ribs. Al competed even though he was in a lot of pain. He threw a new Olympic record and won his third gold medal. He was so determined that he told doctors he would "die for" the Olympics.
Making History: Mexico City 1968
Al Oerter returned for the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. This time, his teammate Jay Silvester was the favorite. Many thought Al, who was 32, was too old to win. They believed he couldn't throw as far as Silvester. But at the Olympics, Al threw another Olympic record of 64.78 meters on his third try.
His record held, and he made history! He became the first track and field athlete to win gold medals in four Olympic Games in a row. Later, other American athletes like Carl Lewis (in long jump) and swimmer Michael Phelps also achieved this amazing feat.
Later Attempts and Records
Al Oerter stopped competing after the 1968 Olympics. But he later thought about coming back. He tried different ways to build muscle and improve his throws. He even set his personal best record of 69.46 meters in 1980, when he was 43 years old! This was 27 feet farther than his best gold medal throw.
Al Oerter also carried the Olympic flag at the 1984 Summer Olympics. He then carried the Olympic flame into the stadium for the 1996 Olympic Games.
Life After Sports
Al Oerter had high blood pressure for most of his life. In the 2000s, he became very ill with a heart condition. In 2003, he almost died when fluid built up around his heart.
Al Oerter was honored in several sports halls of fame. He was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. In 2005, he joined the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame.
Art of the Olympians
As a child, Al loved visiting his grandparents' home and seeing their art collection. After he retired from sports, Al Oerter became an abstract painter. He loved the freedom of abstract art. He didn't go to art school because he thought it might limit his creativity.
One of his famous art projects was called the "Impact" series. For these paintings, Al would put a puddle of paint on a tarp. Then, he would throw a discus into the paint! This created splashing lines on a canvas placed in front of the tarp. If the discus landed face-up with paint on it, he would sign it. Then he would give it to the person who bought the painting.
In 2006, Al Oerter started an organization called Art of the Olympians. He held an art show in his hometown of Fort Myers, Florida. This first show featured artworks and sculptures from 14 Olympians. Their art was also shown on a giant screen in Times Square in New York City.
Al Oerter's heart condition got worse, and doctors suggested a heart transplant. But Al decided against it. He said, "I've had an interesting life, and I'm going out with what I have." Al Oerter passed away on October 1, 2007, from heart failure in Fort Myers, Florida. He was 71 years old.
Many people remember Al Oerter as one of the greatest Olympians ever. On March 7, 2009, the Al Oerter Recreation Center opened in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, New York.
See Also
In Spanish: Al Oerter para niños
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists in one event
- List of multiple Summer Olympic medalists
