Rink Babka (2009) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Rink Babka

Induction:
2009
Class:
1958

Rink Babka, one of the greatest discus throwers in USC history, was among the first throwers to break the 200-foot mark. The 3-year (1956-58) letterman co-captained USC’s 1958 NCAA championship team and was the NCAA co-champ in the discus as a senior. His best Trojan throw was 198-10. A fine athlete, he planned to also play football and basketball at USC before suffering knee injuries. A world and American record holder in the discus throw with a career best of 217-4, he was ranked in the world’s Top 10 for 12 consecutive years, including No. 1 in 1958. He won a silver medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics. He helped found the International Track Association (the sport’s first pro group). After working in the electronics and computer fields, he became a business entrepreneur–including owning a successful beverage distributorship in Stockton, Calif., where he also raised quarter horses and cattle–and then was a management consultant and artist. He also was active in community affairs. He died on Jan. 15, 2022, at age 85.