Maybe you have seen a photo of the medal ceremony for the men's 200 meters at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968. U.S. sprinter and Gold medallist Tommie Smith and his compatriot John Carlos, the Bronze medallist, stand on the dais. They have no shoes on and each is wearing a single black glove on one hand. They are thrusting their fists into the air in a black power salute and their heads are bowed in protest as the Star Spangled Banner is played. It was an act of defiance aimed at protesting against segregation and racism against African Americans back home in the United States.
But let’s take our gaze away from Tommie Smith and John Carlos. You will see a small guy from Australia standing still. It’s Peter Norman. What few people realise is that Peter Norman is the forgotten hero of that medal ceremony.
Sources for this episode include:
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2012/s3572112.htm
http://www.andrewleigh.com/3389
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9NsN0ybTec
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D35uvpN3IKk
http://corporate.olympics.com.au/news/peter-norman-not-shunned-by-aoc
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Music courtesy of Dan-O at: http://www.danosongs.com/
Thanks to Ken Dampier for post-production.