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Al Oerter

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Al Oerter

USAUSAMen
Birth dateSep 19, 1936
BirthplaceNew York City, United States
Height1.92 m
Weight125 kg

Alfred Oerter Jr. (; September 19, 1936 – October 1, 2007) was an American athlete and a four-time Olympic Champion in the discus throw. He was the first athlete to win a gold medal in the same individual event in four consecutive Olympic Games. Oerter is an inductee of the IAAF Hall of Fame.

Key facts
Discus Throw
69.46
#54 all-time
1986 season best
62.40
Jun 14, 1986 · Trenton, NJ (USA)
1986 season best
Medals
Olympic Games: 4 gold
Age
89 years old

As of Sep 12, 2026: Discus Throw 69.46 (#54 all-time), 1986 season best 62.40 (Jun 14, 1986, Trenton, NJ (USA)) · Olympic Games: 4 gold · 89 years old

PB

Personal bests

69.46
#54 all-time
🏅

Medals

🥇🥈🥉Total
Olympic Games4--4

Performance Charts

Season bests

SeasonDisciplineResultWindDateTrendCompetitions
1986
DT
62.40-Jun 14, 1986
↓
Trenton, NJ (USA)
1985
DT
64.40-Sep 15, 1985
↓
Scotch Plains, NJ (USA)
1984
DT
63.92-Jun 8, 1984
↓
San José (USA)
1983
DT
67.90-Nov 12, 1983
↓
West Long Branch, NJ (USA)
1982
DT
66.12-Mar 28, 1982
↓
Westfield, MA (USA)
1981
DT
68.76-Jun 7, 1981
↓
Scotch Plains, NJ (USA)
1980
DT
69.46-May 31, 1980
↓
Wichita, KS (USA)
1979
DT
67.46-Dec 8, 1979
↓
Scotch Plains, NJ (USA)
1978
DT
62.62-Aug 5, 1978
↓
State College, PA (USA)
1977
DT
62.50-Apr 29, 1977
↓
Mountainside, NJ (USA)
1968
DT
64.78-Oct 15, 1968
↓
The XIX Olympic Games
1964
DT
62.94-Apr 25, 1964
↓
Walnut, CA (USA)
1963
DT
62.62-Apr 27, 1963
↓
Walnut, CA (USA)
1962
DT
62.45-Jul 1, 1962
↓
Chicago, IL (USA)
1960
DT
59.18-Sep 7, 1960
↓
Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA)
1956
DT
56.36-Nov 27, 1956
↓
Cricket Ground, Melbourne (AUS)

1986

1 performance
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
62.40-Jun 14Ewing, Trenton, NJ

1985

1 performance
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
64.40-Sep 15Scotch Plains, NJ

1984

3 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
63.92-Jun 8San José TAC Championships, San José
DT
61.42-Apr 29Walnut Mt. SAC Relays, Walnut, CA
DT
59.56-Mar 30Gainesville, FL

1983

5 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
67.90-Nov 12West Long Branch, NJ
DT
63.04-Jul 14Scotch Plains, NJ
DT
60.53-Jul 3Colorado Springs, CO
DT
60.66-Jun 5Piscataway, NJ
DT
63.62-May 28Scotch Plains, NJ

1982

3 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
61.12-Sep 16Rieti
DT
58.36-Sep 14Roma Golden Gala, Roma
DT
66.12-Mar 28Westfield, MA

1981

1 performance
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
68.76-Jun 7Scotch Plains, NJ

1980

4 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
63.62-Aug 5Roma Golden Gala, Roma
DT
69.46-May 31-
DT
69.46-May 31Wichita, KS
DT
66.98-Feb 3Scotch Plains, NJ

1979

9 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
67.46-Dec 8-
DT
67.46-Dec 8Scotch Plains, NJ
DT
64.52-Jul 30Colorado Springs, CO
DT
61.66-Jul 17Oslo IAAF Golden Mile, Oslo
DT
61.20-Jul 5Oslo Bislett Games, Oslo
DT
61.76-Jul 3Stockholm DN Galan, Stockholm
DT
66.34-Jun 16Walnut AAU Championships, Walnut, CA
DT
63.66-May 25Wichita, KS
DT
67.00-Apr 7Westfield, MA

1978

2 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
62.62-Aug 5State College, PA
DT
62.05-Apr 15Greenville, SC

1977

5 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
62.26-Aug 20Randalls Island, NY
DT
62.50-Apr 29Mountainside, NJ
DT
58.06-Apr 22Lawrence, KS
DT
60.86-Apr 8Brookville, PA
DT
60.02-Apr 2Raleigh, NC

1968

2 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
64.78-Oct 15The XIX Olympic Games
DT
59.36-Oct 14The XIX Olympic Games, Estadio Olímpico, Ciudad de México

1964

3 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
60.54-Oct 15The XVIII Olympic Games, National Stadium, Tokyo
DT
61.00-Oct 15The XVIII Olympic Games, National Stadium, Tokyo
DT
62.94-Apr 25Walnut Mt.SAC Relays, Walnut, CA

1963

1 performance
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
62.62-Apr 27Walnut Mt. SAC Relays, Walnut, CA

1962

2 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
62.45-Jul 1Chicago USA-POL International Match, Chicago, IL
DT
61.10-May 18Los Angeles Col R, Los Angeles, CA

1960

2 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
59.18-Sep 7The XVII Olympic Games, Stadio Olimpico, Roma
DT
58.43-Sep 6The XVII Olympic Games, Stadio Olimpico, Roma

1956

2 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
51.19-Nov 27The XVI Olympic Games, Cricket Ground, Melbourne
DT
56.36-Nov 27The XVI Olympic Games, Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Honours

🥇

The XIX Olympic Games

Discus Throw

1968
🥇

The XVIII Olympic Games

Discus Throw

1964
🥇

The XVII Olympic Games

Discus Throw

1960
🥇

The XVI Olympic Games

Discus Throw

1956
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Al Oerter's Discus Throw personal best?

Al Oerter's Discus Throw personal best is 69.46, set on May 31, 1980 in Wichita, KS (USA), #54 on the all-time list.

Which events does Al Oerter compete in?

Al Oerter competes in the Discus Throw.

How did Al Oerter perform in 1986?

1986 season best: 62.40, set on Jun 14, 1986 in Trenton, NJ (USA).

How many medals has Al Oerter won?

Al Oerter has won 4 Olympic Games medals.