You’ve probably seen the photo of Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, holding their fists high in the black power salute.
It’s one of the most iconic sporting photos ever taken, and has circulated widely recently thanks to the spate of politicians claiming that sport and politics don’t mix (Australia), or that a sports star’s paycheque makes him (or her) ineligible to make a political statement (America).
However, the little known story of the third man in the photograph, Australian athlete Peter Norman, is going viral.
He shocked everyone by sprinting past Carlos in the men’s 200 metres final to scoop the silver medal. When he found out what Carlos and Smith were going to do, he wore an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge, and when Carlos realised he’d left his black gloves in the Olympic village, suggested they share Smith’s. It’s why Smith is saluting with his right hand, and Carlos with his left; they were one pair.
Later, The Age‘s Martin Flanagan wrote about the incident:
“They [Smith and Carlos] asked Norman if he believed in human rights. He said he did. They asked him if he believed in God. Norman, who came from a Salvation Army background, said he believed strongly in God. We knew that what we were going to do was far greater than any athletic feat. He said, ‘I’ll stand with you’.” Carlos said he expected to see fear in Norman’s eyes. He didn’t; “I saw love.”
When Norman returned home to Australia, he was ostracised for his part in the stunt. He was not selected for the 1972 Munich Olympics despite holding the Australian record for the 200m sprint (which he still has to this day), and was not invited to participate in the 2000 Sydney Olympics (the U.S. team invited him instead).
After contracting gangrene after tearing his Achilles tendon during a charity race, he became depressed, turning to alcohol and becoming addicted to pain killers.
He died of a heart attack in 2006, at the age of 64. Smith and Carlos both gave eulogies at his funeral, and served as pallbearers.
In a 2012 interview with the ABC, Carlos said:
“There’s no-one in the nation of Australia that should be honoured, recognised, appreciated more than Peter Norman for his humanitarian concerns, his character, his strength and his willingness to be a sacrificial lamb for justice.”
The Australian government finally issued a post-humous apology to Norman in 2012, six years after his death, acknowledging his bravery and its own feet-dragging.
“[Parliament] belatedly recognises the powerful role that Peter Norman played in furthering racial equality [and] apologises to him for the treatment he received upon his return to Australia, and the failure to fully recognise his inspirational role before his untimely death.”
The story that’s currently going viral is from South African author Khaya Dlanga, and you can read it in full below.
Many of us know this famous picture of Tommie Smith and John Carlos. But few know the bravery and tragedy of the white guy, Peter Norman. pic.twitter.com/A96hzYtdvI
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) October 15, 2017
He came second in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) October 15, 2017
When he found out that Smith and Carlos were going to protest for equality, justice, he gave them the black gloves they wore.
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) October 15, 2017
As you can see from the photo it’s a single pair.
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) October 15, 2017
Peter Norman was Australian and his time at the Olympics was so fast that it’s still the national record back in Australia.
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) October 15, 2017
He did not lift his fist but wore an Olympic badge for justice and equality instead. It was his show solidarity.
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) October 15, 2017
Australia would not allow back to participate in the Olympics because he had stood in solidarity with Smith and Carlos.
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) October 15, 2017
Meanwhile in Australia he was treated as an outsider. He couldn’t find work and eventually got a job as a gym teacher in a school.
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) October 15, 2017
He continued to fight inequality in his country, speaking against the treatment of aboriginals and also worked as a butcher.
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) October 15, 2017
John Carlos said, “If we were getting beat up, Peter was fighting an entire country and suffering alone.”
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) October 15, 2017
He could have prevented his suffering because he had been invited to condemn Smith and Carlos in exchange he would no longer be ostrocised.
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) October 15, 2017
He would have been pardoned and been part of the organizing committee of the 2000 Australian Olympic Games. He refused.
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) October 15, 2017
The consequences were that he was not allowed to march as part of the Australian team in 2000 either.
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) October 15, 2017
In 2006, he died without much. Smith and Carlos attended his funeral and were pallbearers.
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) October 15, 2017
Finally in 2012, six years after his passing, the Australian parliament offered Peter Norman an apology,
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) October 15, 2017
“(3) apologises to Peter Norman for the wrong done by Australia in failing to send him to the 1972 Olympics, despite repeatedly qualifying;
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) October 15, 2017
(4) belatedly recognises the powerful role that Peter Norman played in furthering racial equality.”
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) October 15, 2017
Some heroes are never recognised. But he was not about recognition, he simply stood for what was right.
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) October 15, 2017
A statute commemorating the famous moment in Olympic history was unveiled by San Jose State University in 2005 commemorates the moment, but noticeably, Norman is missing.
It turned out this was at his request. He declined to be depicted in the statue, thereby allowing others to stand in his spot and “take a stand”.
Photo: Ken Lund / Atlas Obscura.
