Al Oerter
Al Oerter, the discus great who won gold medals in four straight Olympics to become one of track and field's biggest stars in the 1950s and '60s, died Monday of heart failure. He was 71.
Oerter died at a hospital near his Fort Myers Beach home, his wife Cathy Oerter said. He had dealt with high blood pressure since he was young and has struggled with heart problems, she said.
"He was a gentle giant," she said. "He was bigger than life."
Oerter won gold medals in 1956, 1960, 1964 and 1968. Oerter and Carl Lewis are the only track and field stars to capture the same event in four consecutive Olympics. Oerter, however, is the only one to set an Olympic record in each of his victories.
Born in New York City and reared on Long Island, Oerter eschewed coaching and conventional training methods to mold himself into a fierce competitor who performed his best when the stakes were highest.
Oerter died at a hospital near his Fort Myers Beach home, his wife Cathy Oerter said. He had dealt with high blood pressure since he was young and has struggled with heart problems, she said.
"He was a gentle giant," she said. "He was bigger than life."
Oerter won gold medals in 1956, 1960, 1964 and 1968. Oerter and Carl Lewis are the only track and field stars to capture the same event in four consecutive Olympics. Oerter, however, is the only one to set an Olympic record in each of his victories.
Born in New York City and reared on Long Island, Oerter eschewed coaching and conventional training methods to mold himself into a fierce competitor who performed his best when the stakes were highest.
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