Al Oerter Biography
| Born as | Alfred Adolph Oerter Jr. |
| Occup. | Athlete |
| From | USA |
| Born | September 19, 1936
Astoria, New York, U.S. |
| Died | October 1, 2007
Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. |
| Aged | 71 years |
Alfred Oerter Jr., also called Al Oerter, was born August 19, 1936, in Astoria, Queens, New York. He was a popular American professional athlete and also four-time Olympic gold champion in discus throwing. Extensively regarded as one of the finest discus throwers of perpetuity, Oerter redefined the sport with his amazing accomplishments and sheer determination. He passed away on October 1, 2007, at the age of 71 in Fort Myers, Florida.
Oerter's all-natural athletic ability became apparent during his high school years at Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park, where he mastered numerous sporting activities, including discus throwing, a sporting activity he only began after a discus unintentionally landed at his feet throughout practice. After graduating from senior high school, he went to the College of Kansas under the tutelage of famous track and field trainer Bill Easton. Oerter remained to dominate the sporting activity throughout his college years, setting various records while standing for Kansas.
At the age of 20, Oerter contended in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, where he won his very first gold medal in discus throwing, setting an Olympic document distance of 184 feet, 11 inches. Regardless of facing significant health issues, consisting of a medical diagnosis of strep throat and also needing to take on a torn rib muscle, Oerter showed his durability by defeating the world-record owner at the time, Fortune Gordien, with his outstanding efficiency.
Oerter's golden streak continued in the 1960 Rome, 1964 Tokyo, and also 1968 Mexico City Olympics, where he won gold medals each time, additional cementing his status as a famous number in the sporting activity. In the process, Oerter ended up being the initial athlete to win four consecutive Olympic gold medals in an individual occasion-- an accomplishment that continues to be unrivaled to this day. His commitment to the sporting activity was evident in his intense training routine, practicing for over 1000 days consistently, leading up to the 1968 Olympics.
In 1980, Oerter introduced his purpose to make a comeback to complete in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, yet the USA' boycott of the games stopped his strategies.
Apart from his notable achievements in the sports field, Oerter was additionally an achieved abstract painter. His artistic abilities were showcased in galleries worldwide, and also he commonly incorporated his love for art as well as sporting activities, starting the philanthropic company Art of the Olympians, a company that celebrates the connection in between art and sports by showcasing the creative skills of Olympians.
Oerter wed his partner Cathy Carroll in 1976, with whom he had 2 little girls, Crys and Gabrielle. Throughout his life time, Oerter was recognized for his unwavering decision, humility, as well as interest for both sports as well as art, leaving a remarkable heritage as well as an eternal influence on the globe of track and also area.
Our collection contains 4 quotes who is written / told by Al.
Related authors: Lawrence Taylor (Athlete)
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