Dolegiewicz regained his national shot put title in 1979 with a championship record throw of 20.23 m and finished ahead of Pauletto to take the silver medal at the 1979 Pan American Games. He also represented the Americas team at the 1979 IAAF World Cup, where he finished in fifth place. In the next season he did not take part in the 1980 Summer Olympics, but instead competed at the 1980 World's Strongest Man competition. He gained 56 points in the strength events and finished in fourth, one place behind fellow thrower-cum-strongman Geoff Capes. He returned at the 1981 World's Strongest Man, but managed only tenth place on that occasion. On the athletics circuit that year he won a silver at the 1981 Pacific Conference Games, as well as another national title and fifth place at the 1981 IAAF World Cup.