Masters legends Oerter, Pain mending
Al Oerter the discus god and David Pain the founder of USA masters track are recovering from serious health problems at the moment. In southwest Florida, Oerter is thankful to be alive after heart failure. In San Diego, Pain is recovering from a serious bike crash. Sorry to be reporting these incidents months after the fact. (But even Track & Field News editor Garry Hill admits he didn’t know about Oerter until two days ago.)
Columnist Glenn Miller wrote a moving column about Oerter’s near death experience. In it, he writes that in March 2003:
Oerter was rushed by ambulance to HealthPark Medical Center. His wife, Cathy, was teaching a dance class at Bay Oaks Recreation Center when he was stricken. She was contacted and zoomed up Estero Boulevard in the middle lane, following the ambulance. In the emergency room, according to Oerter, he was zapped three times by heart-starting paddles. Cathy was told by doctors that they weren’t sure Al would make it.
In Pain’s case, the accident occurred April 12, 2003. Pain’s wife, Linda, writes:
David had a terrible bike accident. . . . A front tire blew as he was going about 40 mph downhill. He was thrown to the pavement. He spent six days in Sharp ICU. He’s making an amazing recovery, according to his doctors, considering the extent of his injuries — 6 broken ribs, both lungs punctured, broken shoulder blade, injured shoulder, bruised heart, a crack on the head, etc. He’s back on his bike and riding a bit but still suffers from some vertigo. He probably survived because he was in such excellent condition.
Later, Linda wrote me:
David is mobile enough to be able to enjoy an outing. He would prefer to ride his bike since that is much easier for him than walking.
Pain turns 81 at the end of this month. Oerter — whose M40 discus record of 69.46 (227-11) set in 1980 is one of the oldest on the books — is 66. Glad they’re still with us.
David Pain kneels by collage of his masters track career in hallway of his home near San Diego State University. After calling it quits on the track (with a bad knee), he took up cycling — and became national class in his age group. –Photo by Ken Stone
