Al Oerter, Requiescat in pace.

Al Oerter, the discus great who won gold medals in four straight Olympics, has died. He was 71.

Oerter was brought to a hospital, where he died, wife Cathy Oerter said Monday. He had high blood pressure since he was young and struggled with heart problems, she said.

"He was a gentle giant," she said. "He was bigger than life."

Oerter won gold medals in 1956, 1960, 1964 and 1968. Oerter and Carl Lewis are the only track and field stars to capture the same event in four consecutive Olympics. Oerter, however, is the only one to set an Olympic record in each of his victories.

Later in life, Oerter discovered a new passion — painting.

"Al approached the art world the same way he approached the sports world," friend and former Olympian Liston Bochette said. "He studied it. He analyzed it. And he sought excellence in the arts." [Thanks to the AP for this obituary.]