Rink Babka (1936–2022) was one of the greatest discus throwers in Olympic Club history. In 1958, he was the first man to throw the discus over the historic 200-foot barrier. At times, he held the world, American and European records. He threw his personal best in 1968 at 209ft 9in.
Babka attended Palo Alto High School, where he lettered in four sports: football, basketball, baseball and track. He began his track and field career in high school at the suggestion of Harlow Rothert, two-time Olympian in the shotput. With training from Stanford University shot-putter Otis Chandler (long-time publisher of the Los Angeles Times), he quickly showed his prodigious talent. Babka acknowledges that he was lucky, “I met the right people at the right time.”
Around this time, legendary coach and fellow OC Hall of Famer Dink Templeton recruited Babka, saying “I want you to throw for The Olympic Club.” Babka joined the Club in 1954 and developed a deep bond with Dink. “He beats you up first, and then becomes your friend,” Babka remarked about Dink. “He was the best human being.”
Babka won discus championships and set records for Menlo College, before being recruited by the University of Southern California (USC) to play three sports. Recurring knee problems kept him out of football and basketball, but he was a three-year track letterman. He co-captained the 1958 NCAA championship team and was the NCAA champ in the discus. That same year, representing The Olympic Club, he also won the AAU discus championship and the discus at the first USA–USSR track meet, held in Moscow.
Babka set a world record (196–6.5) while training for the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. At the Games, overcoming illness requiring hospitalization, he threw well enough in the qualifying round to make the finals. In the final round, there were six throws. Babka led after the fourth throw. In a moment of Olympic sportsmanship, he offered the legendary Al Oerter, who was in second, a helpful suggestion about his technique. Oerter proceeded to use Babka’s advice to best his mark, set an Olympic record and win the gold (his second of four Olympic gold medals). The Americans swept the discus podium, with Babka winning the silver and Dick Cochran the bronze.
Outside of the Olympics, he continued to successfully compete and was ranked in the top 10 in the world for 12 consecutive years. However, he did not make another Olympic team and his experiences read like a series of unfortunate events: in 1956, it was his tooth; in 1964, his ankle; in 1968, his groin muscle.
He had a successful business career, but also kept close to sports through advising, training and philanthropic leadership. He is a member of the USC Hall of Fame and the Hall of Fame at Menlo College.
