Mexico Olympics, 1968

[Matilda]

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The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has denied blacklisting Peter Norman for his role in the famous Olympic Black Power salute at the 1968 Mexico Games.

Federal Parliament is currently debating an apology motion for the former Olympian, who wore a human rights badge when he ascended the podium after claiming the silver medal in the 200 metres in Mexico.

There was bipartisan support in Parliament last night for an apology motion by Canberra Labor MP Andrew Leigh, which calls for recognition of the powerful role that Norman played in furthering racial equality. The motion praises Norman for winning the silver medal and also calls for an apology for his exclusion from the 1972 Olympics.

Liberal backbencher John Alexander told Parliament it was "a stain" on the nation that Norman was ostracised by the Australian media and athletics officials right up until the 2000 Sydney Olympics.


http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-21/aoc-denies-blacklisting-norman-over-olympic-protest/4211788


Sadly, it comes too late for Peter Norman, who died in 2006. Tommie Smith and John Carlos flew out to Australia to be pallbearers at his funeral.

It is very moving to know that some things can transcend the pettiness of officialdom.

Does anyone recall whether Smith and Carlos suffered as a result of their actions?

[Brother Buzz]

1. Smith, like Renaldo Nehemiah, had a lackluster career in football

[HiPointDem]

2. I think the fallout for smith & carlos didn't last so long. Carlos was on the olympic committee in

85, for example.

In an immediate response to their actions, Smith and Carlos were suspended from the U.S. team by Brundage and voluntarily moved from the Olympic Village. Brundage, who was president of the United States Olympic Committee in 1936, had made no objections against Nazi salutes during the Berlin Olympics....

The men's gesture had lingering effects for all three athletes, the most serious of which were death threats against Smith, Carlos and their families.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommie_Smith

[RagAss]

3. I remember George Foreman and Bob Beamon from those 68 Olympics.

[Poiuyt]

4. I had a chance to stand next to Tommy Smith when I was in college and he was coaching track in Ohio

If ever there was a man built for speed, it was Smith. He looked like he had a 5' inseam on a 6' body. To this day, his 200m race is my favorite Olympic memory.

To answer your question, I remember both Smith and Carlos receiving considerable ostrasizing, but I can't remember specifics.

[Tom Ripley]

5. One of the highlights of my life was shaking John Carlos' hand

He became an educator. A good man.

[Matilda]

6. For them to fly out here to be pallbearers,

they must be very decent human beings. It was very touching to read that.