ken patera breaks his neck.

[funk51]

   https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2026/07/wwe-legend-oregon-native-suffers-broken-neck-in-fall-at-gym.html   

[wes]

Holy shit that sucks.......I hope he recovers.

I had that magazine.

[Humble Narcissist]

I figured he was already dead.

[wes]

I figured he was already dead.

I would have assumed that also.

[Brenda Steunbeer]

With his lifestyle it's totally baffling how he got to the age of 83!

[Van_Bilderass]

Was not familiar with the guy. Wonder what year he started juicing, beginning of the 70s or earlier? Still alive.

[BB]

Was not familiar with the guy. Wonder what year he started juicing, beginning of the 70s or earlier? Still alive.

Earlier. He's gone soft on it, but he was known for being honest about steroids and amphetamines. See here -https://www.nytimes.com/1971/10/17/archives/its-not-how-you-play-the-game-but-what-pill-you-take-its-not-how.html .

He doesn't talk numbers, I think he was a "Whatever's in front of me" type guy.

Hope he gets better, fun guy.

[Van_Bilderass]

Earlier. He's gone soft on it, but he was known for being honest about steroids and amphetamines. See here -https://www.nytimes.com/1971/10/17/archives/its-not-how-you-play-the-game-but-what-pill-you-take-its-not-how.html .

He doesn't talk numbers, I think he was a "Whatever's in front of me" type guy.

Hope he gets better, fun guy.

Thanks. My type of guy, I love the amps as well LOL. Funny quotes but were those drugs really that expensive?

"Ken Patera, an American competing in the championships who admitted to using stimulants, called the disqualifications “ridiculous,” accord ing to a story in The St. Petersburg Times. Patera—quite honestly—pointed out that weight‐ lifters routinely had been using amphetamines for years. And just this past summer, after win ning a gold medal at the Pan Am games in Cali, Colombia, Patera talked about how he is looking forward to competing against the Russian cham pion, Alexeyev, at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. “Last year the only difference between me and him was that I couldn't afford his drug bill,” said Patera. “Now I can. When I hit Munich next year, I'll weigh in at about 340, maybe 350. Then we'll see which are better—his steroids or mine.”

People on forums have been saying O'hearn couldn't be using drugs as he's been in shape so long and would be dead if he had used drugs all this time. Patera started using maybe 60 years ago.

[JK]

Sad news. I hope he recovers quickly!

[JK]

Thanks. My type of guy, I love the amps as well LOL. Funny quotes but were those drugs really that expensive?

"Ken Patera, an American competing in the championships who admitted to using stimulants, called the disqualifications “ridiculous,” accord ing to a story in The St. Petersburg Times. Patera—quite honestly—pointed out that weight‐ lifters routinely had been using amphetamines for years. And just this past summer, after win ning a gold medal at the Pan Am games in Cali, Colombia, Patera talked about how he is looking forward to competing against the Russian cham pion, Alexeyev, at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. “Last year the only difference between me and him was that I couldn't afford his drug bill,” said Patera. “Now I can. When I hit Munich next year, I'll weigh in at about 340, maybe 350. Then we'll see which are better—his steroids or mine.”

People on forums have been saying O'hearn couldn't be using drugs as he's been in shape so long and would be dead if he had used drugs all this time. Patera started using maybe 60 years ago.

That's right. Same thing with Louie Simmons - decades of gear and lived to a ripe old age

[wes]

Many moons ago when I was a teen,I lost my job and was collecting unemployment.....one day I spotted the guy in line in front of me and he was Bob Bednarski the great Olympic lifter...............he looked like a wino,was dirty, and had a pint of whiskey in his back pants pocket.

Great lifter,but we all have our demons.

[Van_Bilderass]

That's right. Same thing with Louie Simmons - decades of gear and lived to a ripe old age

Yes and I don't mean to say gear is innocuous either, it isn't. Just saying it's possible to live long despite long-term gear use. These old timers didn't know or care about things like blood work or blood pressure either and just taking care to monitor BP could reduce risks with use. Although genes dictate so much.

[funk51]

Many moons ago when I was a teen,I lost my job and was collecting unemployment.....one day I spotted the guy in line in front of me and he was Bob Bednarski the great Olympic lifter...............he looked like a wino,was dirty, and had a pint of whiskey in his back pants pocket.

Great lifter,but we all have our demons.

   Lb for LB one of the greatest lifters for the time or any time. I think he had a brother who also was an olympic lifter.

[wes]

   Lb for LB one of the greatest lifters for the time or any time. I think he had a brother who also was an olympic lifter.

I hear U Funk,he was great....I hope he conquered his demons.

[wes]

I remember those injury pics....cringeworthy.

[Cook]

Weightlifting and wrestling legend I hope he recovers