Brave Hearts

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Eye Care Foundation

Page 63

The Brave Hearts
competitions. But that was certainly not enough to emulate the achievement that was registered by John Flagnan in winning gold medals in three consecutive Olympics. What the doctors had diagnosed was that by throwing the disc weighing 2 kg. for twelve years, Oerter Discus Thrower Oerter with a belt in the had damaged the
neck and in deep pain vertebra of his backbone. That is why while hurling the discus from the 8' x 272" circle, he was feeling severe pain; whether his body supported him then or not, his mind was very firm and strong and hence his body too gave him physical support. To save him from the agony of pain, Oerter was wearing a collar made of leather around his neck that was specially designed for him so that his head did not make too many oscillations while throwing the disc. And that gave him some relief.
Prior to the Tokyo Olympics, Oerter's worries increased, because the Czech champion Damely had broken his own world record and was now looking forward to win the Olympic gold. Secondly, just six days before the Olympic event while Oerter was practicing in the Olympic village he slipped over a wet patch and cracked part of his ribs. There was internal bleeding. On examining him his doctors expressed the opinion that it would take at least six weeks for