Peter Norman

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Olympic medal record
Men's athletics
Silver	1968 Mexico City	200 metres

Peter Norman (left) with Tommie Smith (centre) and John Carlos

Peter George Norman (15 June 1942 – 3 October 2006) was an Australian track star 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 200 metre record^[1]. He is a five-time Australian champion of 200m^[1].

The gold and bronze medalists were Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos, respectively. On the medal podium, during the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner", Smith and Carlos, both African Americans, famously joined in a black power salute.

What is less known is that Norman, a Caucasian, donned a badge on the podium in support of their cause, the Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR). It was also Norman who suggested that Smith and Carlos share the black gloves used in their salute, after Carlos had forgotten his pair. This is the reason for Tommie Smith raising his right fist, while John Carlos raised his left.

Australia's Olympic authorities reprimanded him and the Australian media ostracised him. Despite finishing third in his trials the Australian Olympic track team did not pick Norman for the 1972 Summer Olympics. He kept running, but contracted gangrene in 1985 after tearing his Achilles Tendon, which nearly led to his leg being amputated. Depression and heavy drinking followed. Norman died of a heart attack on October 3, 2006 in Melbourne, Australia at the age of 64. USA Track and Field proclaimed October 9 2006, the date of his funeral, as Peter Norman Day. Both Smith and Carlos travelled to Melbourne and were pall-bearers at his funeral along with nephew and Film-maker Matt Norman.