Peter Norman was an Australian track athlete best known for winning the silver medal in the 200 metres at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
His time of 20.06 seconds still stands as the Australian 200m record.Norman, a Australian, donned a badge on the podium in support of the cause , Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR).
After the race, Carlos and Smith ( the other two on the podium ) told Norman what they were planning to do during the ceremony, Norman told them that he believed in there cause and will support them .
Norman who suggested that Smith and Carlos share the black gloves used in their salute, after Carlos left his gloves in the Olympic Village, this is the reason for Tommie Smith raising his right fist, while John Carlos raised his left.
Australia's Olympic authorities reprimanded Norman and the Australian media ostracised him; Norman was also banned for two years on his return. Despite Norman running qualifying times for the 100m five times and 200m 13 times during 1971/72, the Australian Olympic track team did not send him, or any other male sprinters, to the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
Australian organising authorities overlooked Norman as being involved in any way with the 2000 Summer Olympics held in Sydney; he was however eventually part of the event after being
invited by the Americans when they heard that his own country had failed to do so.] On 17 October 2003 San Jose State University unveiled a statue commemorating the 1968 Olympic protest; Norman was not included as part of the statue itself—his empty podium spot intended for others viewing the statue to "take a stand"—but was invited to deliver a speech at the ceremony.
Norman died of a heart attack on 3 October 2006 in Melbourne at the age of 64.
US Track and Field Federation proclaimed 9 October 2006, the date of his funeral, as Peter Norman Day. Thirty-eight years after the three made history, both Smith and Carlos gave eulogies and were pallbearers at Norman's funeral.
Forum
Pages: 
