Richard Aldrich 'Rink' Babka 
September 23, 1936 - January 15, 2022
Residence: Woodbridge, California
Richard "Rink" Babka, a former world record holder who was part of a U.S. medals sweep in the discus at the 1960 Rome Olympics, has died. He was 85. Babka died Saturday (Jan. 15) of congestive heart failure in a hospital, according to the University of Southern California, which was informed by his partner, Sharon.
Rink Babka and Al Oerter were gold-medal favorites at the Rome Games. Babka defeated Oerter at the U.S. trials and tied the world record of 196.55 feet (59.91 meters) a month before the Olympics.
At the Games, Oerter broke his own Olympic record in the second set of qualifying round throws at 191.69 feet (58.43 meters). Babka exceeded the old mark three times and American teammate Dick Cochran did so once in the final. But only Oerter was able to raise his mark again with a throw of 194.16 feet (59.18 meters) to earn the gold.
Babka took silver and Cochran earned bronze to complete a U.S. podium sweep.
Born Richard Aldrich Babka on Sept. 23, 1936, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, he starred in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field at Palo Alto High, class of 1954. He attended Menlo College before going to USC.
He lettered in track and field at USC from 1956 to '58, helping the Trojans win the 1958 NCAA track and field championship and tying for first place in the discus as a senior.
His throw of 198.10 (60.38 meters) is still tied for fifth on USC's all-time list.
Knee injuries derailed Babka's plans to play football and basketball at USC. He was inducted into school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
He retired from competition in 1969. He later owned a beverage distributorship in Stockton, California, where he raised quarter horses and cattle.
Babka was an artist and had some of his work displayed with Art of the Olympians, which was started by his former teammate Oerter, who died in 2007.
He is survived by his partner, Sharon nd sons Kord, Dirk and Beau and daughter Tanja.