Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest says ‘holy smokes’ after expert reveals the value of her Olympic collection (marketrealist.com)
Daughter of Olympic Legend Stunned by Value of Father’s Memorabilia on Antiques Roadshow
The daughter of four-time Olympic gold medalist Al Oerter recently appeared on Antiques Roadshow, seeking an appraisal of her father’s impressive Olympic collection. While she knew the historical significance of her father’s achievements, she was clearly unprepared for the valuation revealed by appraiser Leila Dunbar.
Oerter, a discus thrower, won gold medals in four consecutive Olympic games – 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968 – setting a new Olympic record each time. His daughter proudly recounted his legacy, highlighting his perseverance through injuries and his status as a lesser-known Olympian. She brought his four gold medals, a discus, and other memorabilia to the show.
Oerter’s Olympic journey was marked by several serious injuries. He competed in the 1960 Rome games wearing a neck brace due to a cervical disc injury and tore a rib muscle just before the 1964 Tokyo games. Despite these setbacks, he continued to compete, even needing to be carried off the field after his record-breaking throw in Tokyo.
After a careful evaluation of the collection’s historical significance and condition, Dunbar placed an insurance value of $400,000 on the items. Oerter’s daughter was visibly shocked, exclaiming, “Holy smokes!”
She expressed her excitement at having Dunbar appraise the collection, praising the appraiser’s enthusiasm and knowledge. After the jaw-dropping valuation, she jokingly added that the memorabilia would be going back in a safe, away from the kids.
Oerter retired in 1968, moving into sports management and co-founding the Art of the Olympians program, which promotes artwork created by Olympic athletes.