John Carroll’s Eugene Oberst’s accidental ride to the 1924 Olympics

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Eugene Oberst made Olympic history 100 years ago in Paris, France. At 22, he became the first American to win a medal in the javelin event. The Kentucky native’s throw of 58.35 meters earned him a bronze medal at the 1924 games. Since then, only seven other Americans have medaled in this event.

“They had the whole team on the boat, so they really got to know each other well,” said Robert Oberst, Eugene’s son. “They stayed in Clapper cabins with two-door rooms, five rooms on each side, ten rooms per cabin, so they all stayed together.”

Oberst’s journey to the Olympics began when he played right tackle for the legendary Knute Rockne at Notre Dame, blocking for the Four Horsemen and George Gipp. During his five seasons, the team lost only three games and won two national championships.

Oberst’s path to the Olympics started with a chance walk around the Notre Dame track. After his Olympic and college career ended, he became a coach, teacher, painter, and athletics administrator. He won multiple high school football championships in Philadelphia before moving to Northeast Ohio.

“One thing what was kind of interesting was how much he inspired kids,” said Oberst. “Through Notre Dame by teaching grade school kids and coaching four sports.”

From 1936 to 1951, Oberst coached four sports at John Carroll University and served as the athletic director. At John Carroll, he coached fullback and future Hall of Famer Don Shula. He was an accomplished and celebrated athlete of his generation.

“He was kind of Renaissance man and had lots of interests,” said Oberst.

In 1971, Oberst was inducted into John Carroll University’s Athletic Hall of Fame, and five years later, he was honored with induction into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame. Eugene Oberst passed away in Cleveland in 1991 at the age of 89.