Fierce competitiveness and a love of sport led Al Oerter to win four consecutive gold medals in the discus from 1956-1968.

Al Oerter (AP Photo)

Overcoming bruised ribs to win in 1964 and a quadriceps tear to win in 1968 was evidence of this.

Four gold medals would seem enough but not for Oerter, who embarked on a comeback in 1977 with the aim of making the 1980 Olympic team.

At the Trials, Oerter won with a career-best throw of 69.46 meters, but could not achieve his fifth triumph when the U.S. boycotted the Moscow Games following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.


Terra Sports/Reuters