Al Oerter could have been an Olympic contender in 1984 — at 47

Saturday, I made more progress on the National Masters News project — uploading 60 issues to mastershistory.org. Now 88 issues (the first nine years) are online as PDFs. So many revelations, so little time. But a favorite was the issue of August 1984, which told of hammer-star Ed Burke making the Olympic team at age 44. But I didn’t know Al Oerter had his eyes set on a fifth gold medal — at 47. Al Sheahen was editor, and even though his byline was missing, I presume he wrote about Al’s stepping in a “hammer hole” and injuring himself two weeks before the Trials. Al also quoted Al: “What about 1988? ‘Well, they say I’m already old at 47. I’ll be 51 then, so what the hell,’ [Oerter] laughed. ‘I know I’m going to be throwing over 200 feet, but how far over, I don’t know. But if I can make the qualifying distance for the Trials, obviously I’ll try to make the next team.'” Actually, I’m still missing Issue 74 (October 1984). I expect that soon from the commercial outfit that finished scanning 2,000 pages this month. In any case, check out these marvels of reportage. Sheahen was a helluva writer and hell-raiser.

Ed Burke was shown on cover of August 1984 National Masters News for making the Olympic team at 44.

Ed Burke was shown on cover of August 1984 National Masters News for making the Olympic team at 44. He threw the hammer 235-7. Incredible.

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September 27, 2014

One Response

  1. Jeff Davison - September 28, 2014

    Thank you to NMN.

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