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T&FN Special: The Al Oerter Legend, Gold Medal 3
This the story of discus legend Al
Oerter's third Olympic gold medal—in Tokyo, Japan—as it
appeared in the October/November 1964 edition of Track & Field News.
©Track & Field News, 1964–2007
Danek Succumbs to Oerter
by Cordner Nelson
Al Oerter was in trouble. Olympic champion in 1956 and 1960, he had raised his World Record to 206-6 this year in spite of a cervical disc injury. But his record had been shattered by Ludvik Danek, a tall, lean Czech who threw 211-9 and had a fine competitive record of long throws and an Olympic warm up toss over his World Record.
Worst of all, Oerter had torn cartilages in his lower rib cage which hurt so much he had to quit exercising for six days before his event. He was heavily taped and his right side was periodically packed in ice to prevent internal hemorrhaging. Doctors advised him not to throw; he needed six weeks of rest to heal his wounds. His first practice throw doubled him up in pain. He said, "I was thinking of dropping out."
Al Oerter is one of the truly great competitors in the history of track and field, or any other sport. In an event where experience is priceless and where tension causes more damage than in most other events, Oerter won the 1956 discus over favored veterans Fortune Gordien and Adolfo Consolini.
In 1960 he came from behind on his next to last throw to beat Rink Babka. But tension was no longer his enemy. His injury was too serious to worry about anything else. When he threw 198-7 on his qualifying throw it became apparent he was not totally disabled and tension became his friend, for it settled in his opponents.
Four name opponents failed to make the final by qualifying at 55.00 (18-'). Pentti Repo of Finland, a 195 footer, threw only 52.93 (173-8). Lothar Milde, who had beaten 197 footer Jens Reimers off the German team, threw only 53.39 (175-2). Les Mills of New Zealand, a 191 footer, slipped to 51.70 (169-7). Dako Radosevic, 186-foot Yugoslav, reached only 52.71 (172-11).
In fact, two Russians, Kim Bukhantsev, a 193-4 man, and Vladimir Trusenyov, 202-2 in 1962, qualified 11th and 12th, as they threw only 54.94 (180-3) and 53.81 (176-6). The tension was there.
Danek threw 59.73 (195-11) for a new Olympic record on his first throw. Oerter, without his neck brace, threw 57.65 (189-1), the lean Zenon Begier reached 57.06 (187-2), and Dave Weill fouled. Oerter was not happy. He said, "It felt like somebody was trying to tear out my ribs."
Jay Silvester was also having trouble. A few minutes before the event was to start he was rushing out onto the field when he struck his head on one of Japan's many low beams. This one was of concrete and it knocked him unconscious. Still wobbly, Silvester threw his first one 56.99 (186-11).
In the second round, Weill moved to second with 59.49 (195-2). Oerter improved to 58.34 (191-5) but he was now 3rd. Danek, criticized for his extra fast spin, threw 58.83 (193-0).
In the third round, Silvester, after a foul, reached 57.54 (188-9) which moved him past Begier. Jozsef Szecsenyi, with a Yul Brynner hair cut, threw 57.23 (187-9) also passing Begier.
With only the first six left, only Danek improved in the fourth round. The 27-year-old Czech threw 60.52 (198-7) and appeared the winner.
Silvester's fifth throw, 59,09 (193-10), was better than Oerter's best and Danek failed to improve. Oerter said of his fifth throw, "I was using a slow spin and trying to stretch the tendons to get a little higher. I had been throwing too low and I was trying a very easy turn to correct the problem. The sixth was to have been my best effort with a faster turn."
His fifth throw sailed out 61 meters (200-1) and when Danek threw only 57.17 (187-6) on his final effort, Oerter passed. He was Olympic champion for the third consecutive time.
Weill said, "I am happy to see Oerter get that gold medal even though it knocked me down."
Oerter, who had planned to win five straight, now says he'll settle for any kind of medals in the next two Games. He'll be at Mexico City.
"I'll wait until it stops hurting and I'll just keep going," he said. "I'll be stiff as hell tomorrow. They damn near freeze you to death with those ice packs."
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