Olympic Gold Medal Winner Al Oerter Passes Away
Track and field Gold medal winner Al Oerter passed away on Monday at the age of 71. Olympic enthusiasts will remember Oerter for winning gold medals in the discus in four straight Olympic Games during the 1950s and 1960s.
Oerter became a legend and a record-breaker during his years on the U.S. Olympic Track and Field team. He set new records during each of his four gold medal winning games, something no other athlete can boast.
After he retired in the 1980s Oerter took up new passions, starting with abstract painting. He also started Art of the Olympians, a program to give former Olympians a place to showcase their artwork.
Friend and former Olympian Liston Bochette spoke of Al fondly. “Al approached the art world the same way he approached the sports world. He studied it. He analyzed it. And he sought excellence in the arts.”
You can view a great online memorial to Al, his accomplishments and his art at www.aloerter.com.