One of the greatest Olympians ever. Always rose to the occasion when the pressure was on.

I'll never forget meeting Al in 1967. He was training at SUNY Farmingdale, and was happy to help myself (a decent but far from great) discus thrower, and my teammate, to learn to spin properly. He was reassuring when I proceded to fall flat on my butt on my first attempt to spin like him. I'll never forget watching him throw: the incredible gracefullness, power, and how our jaws dropped as the discus threatened to go into orbit! Most of all, and I hope Al reads this, I was impressed by what a decent, warm, "gentle giant" of a man Al was, humble and more than willing to take time out to help a stranger and discus neophyte like me.

What's the problem here? Al Oerter went to Melbourne in 1956. Nice discus thrower. Pundits thought he might medal. He won the gold. Went to Rome in 1960. The Soviets were favored. Oerter was an afterthought. He won the gold. Two Olympics, 2 golds, Pretty good, huh? 1964 in Tokyo. Danek the Czech favored. Oerter not figured to be even in medal contention. Greta last throw. Hear the Star-Spangled Banner playing for Oerter. 1968 in Mexico City. Danek back for revenge. Oerter figured to do nothing. Old guy, throwing at high altitude. I remember Bill Fleming saying the lack of oxygen would prevent Oerter from medaling. 1st throw put him in the lead. Danek never caught him. 4-time underdog, 4-time gold medalist, and a bunch of people are giving him 1 star. WHat's the problem, folks.

Al Oerter was one of the greatest track and field athletes ever who never gets any credit. Maybe this site can pump him up.

My favorite American Olympian. Oerter won his first Olympic gold medal in 1956. He won gold medals again in 1960, 1964, and 1968, setting a new Olympic record in the discus event each time!