Discus / Painting

Al Oerter was an American discus thrower that won the Olympics four-times in a row from 1956 through 1968. He was the first athlete to win a gold medal in the same individual event in four consecutive Olympics.  He also broke the world Record four times.  Oerter is an inductee of the IAAF Hall of Fame.  His first known painting was in 1980 for a unique fundraising project for the USOC to raise money for athletes.  He created his first “impact” painting, throwing a discus at a puddle of multi-colored paint poured out onto a canvas lying on the ground.  In the last 5 years of his life he created over 300 abstract paintings and founded The Art of the Olympians organization.