Episode 1296: The ‘Black Power’ Salute At The Mexico Olympics in 1968, And Why We’re Still Asking If It Was Worth It For Tommie Smith And John Carlos

50 years ago this week, American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos won gold and bronze respectively in the 200m at the Mexico Olympics. As they stood for the Star Spangled Banner at the medal ceremony, they raised their gloved fist to the sky and bowed their heads, and gave us one of the most powerful sporting images of the 20th century.

To mark the anniversary Sports Illustrated’s Tim Layden has written a superb article charting the fraught relationship between the two, and their conflicted feelings on the protest, and we speak to him today about Smith and Carlos’ lives since, the thread of black athlete protest from Jack Johnson to Jackie Robinson, to Muhammad Ali and onto Colin Kaepernick, and how that moment defined their lives ever since – in tragedy and in celebration.

Fifty years ago Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in protest. Here’s my story on a moment that altered their lives and has never been more relevant. https://t.co/Tu9vsrrzwr

— Tim Layden (@SITimLayden) October 3, 2018

We also talk about the Australian athlete Peter Norman, caught quite literally in between, the consequences for him at home, why Kaepernick’s struggle and sacrifice is so different to that of Smith and Carlos, and the pathos in “fighting to recapture territory that we thought was won a long time ago.”

Click the image at the top of the page to play the show. Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Richie Sadlier’s Player’s Chair, The Politics Podcast, and lots of added extras.

.@EoinMcDevitt is happy with this new Joe Namath/Ger Loughnane/victory securing version of Martin O’Neill, until Ken points out one of the down sides
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— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) October 18, 2018

Katie takes a swing at “mentally fragile” rivals ahead of her fight in Boston – we talk to The42’s @GavanCasey https://t.co/3BQxUJb7Lr pic.twitter.com/v0w7BUH93n

— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) October 18, 2018

As Eamon Dunphy is our guest on today’s show, here’s a clip from one of his finest punditry moments which we featured on Second Captains Live on the telly back in 2013. Starring Eamon, Bill O’Herlihy, John Giles and a magic, electronic pen. pic.twitter.com/NANZd4YPIs

— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) October 9, 2018