Al Oerter won four consecutive Olympic discus titles from 1956 through 1968.
The American thrower first won Olympic gold at Melbourne 1956 and successfully defended the title at Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964 and Mexico City 1968. He became the first athlete to win the same individual event at four consecutive Olympics, a milestone that stood for decades.
Oerter competed despite serious injuries during his career, including a neck injury before the 1964 Games. Each of his four Olympic victories came with a new Olympic record, although Olympic records are distinct from world records.
Carl Lewis later matched the broader achievement of four consecutive gold medals in the long jump, but he did not win the discus. Al Oerter’s achievement is specifically associated with the men’s discus throw, making the event central to identifying the correct answer.