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The Forgotten Man on the Podium of History
The man who won a silver medal that changed his life — for the worse
It has been named by Time Magazine as one of the Top 100 most influential images of all time. Mexico City, 1968. The 200m men’s race has been run at the Summer Olympics, and it is time for the medal ceremony. African Americans Tommie Smith (gold medal) and John Carlos (bronze medal) are split on the podium by Australian Peter Norman (silver medal). The Americans decide to take a stand against racism. To showcase the need for human rights while they had the eyes of the world on them.
The photo shows them on the podium heads down, shoeless, wearing black leather gloves, raised in the air — defiant but proud. Sharing the podium is Norman, seemingly out of place staring into the distance.
The stadium fell silent. After a few moments, the stadium started booing the athletes. As the American anthem was played, many began shouting the anthem. “It was like they were saying, ‘Oh, you anti-American sons of bitches. We’re going to shove the s–t down your throat!’ ” Carlos said.
The Head of the US Delegation called for the immediate expulsion of Smith and Carlos from the Olympic team and they were sent home from the Olympics. Back in the USA, they were criticised and they faced death threats…
