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William Parry O'Brien of the United States wasn't just a shot putter who won back to back gold
medals (1952-56) and competed in four Olympic Games. He revolutionized his event. O'Brien was the
first shot putter to use the technique of turning his back to the front of the throwing circle
and using as much momentum as possible before putting the shot. Both of O'Brien's gold
medal-winning performances were Olympic records. Between 1953 and 1955 he beat the world record
sixteen times, becoming the first man over 60 feet, 18 meters and 19 meters. Between 1952 and
1956, he had 116 consecutive victories.
So when O'Brien, fresh from setting a world record of 19.25 m. in November the previous year visited Kuala Lumpur on January 22, 1957 to conduct a clinic at the V.I. field, a large crowd, including the headmaster, Dr G.E.D. Lewis, was present to watch him. He gave several demonstrations of his discus and shot put techniques. In the latter event, although he failed to better his own world mark, he quite easily broke the existing Malayan shot put record in his second attempt, to loud applause from the Victorians. It wasn't every day that a national record was broken at the V.I.!
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