Remember the 3rd man on the podium with John Carlos and Tommie Smith at the 1968 Olympics:

[Are_grits_groceries]

<snip>
He was not well known outside of Australia, though, and not much considered on the world sprinting scene. He had not medaled at a major championship going into the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. But he was running well at those Games, and he worked his way into the final. Then a series of strange and confusing events happened ... and these would mark the rest of his life.

The first was that Norman ran the race of his life. His time -- 20.06 seconds -- was the fastest he had ever run, the fastest he ever would run, and even now, 44 years later, stands as the Australian record.
<snip>
So Carlos and Smith went to Norman and asked him if he believed in human rights. Norman said yes. They asked him if he believed in God. Norman said yes. They told him what they intended to do on the stand and how they were sure that it was the most important thing they would do at the Olympics. Norman said four words that Carlos and Smith would never forget. He said, "I'll stand with you."

Carlos and Smith went to the medal podium wearing black socks. They had intended to also wear black gloves, but Carlos had left his pair behind. Norman suggested that one wear a black glove on his right hand, the other on his left. And that's what they did. The photo of John Carlos and Tommie Smith holding up one black gloved hand has become one of the most iconic in American history, and perhaps THE most iconic in Olympic history.

Peter Norman stands to the left, an unclear look on his face. What you cannot see in the photo is that Norman was wearing a badge that read: "Olympic Project For Human Rights," which he had borrowed from Paul Hoffman, a white member of the U.S. rowing team.

"I believe that every man is born equal and should be treated that way," Norman told reporters after the ceremony.

You probably know that all hell broke loose after that. The IOC immediately suspended Carlos and Smith from the U.S. team and expelled them from the Olympic Village. The two men received much abuse when they came home -- including death threats -- and were ostracized for a long while. But, like I say, you probably knew that.

What you may not have known -- what I did not know -- was that Peter Norman also went through his own personal turmoil after Mexico City. He was vaguely reprimanded by the Australian Olympic Committee for his support of Carlos and Smith -- according to The Guardian, Australia's chef de mission, Julius Patching, told Norman: "They're screaming out for your blood, so consider yourself severely reprimanded. Now, you got any tickets for the hockey today?"

But the press was not so accommodating. It tore Norman to shreds. Back home, Norman was banned from track for a couple of years. And even after he returned, though he was by far Australia's top sprinter and one of the best in the world, they did not send him to the Olympics in Munich four years later.
<snip>
Peter Norman died in 2006. He was 64 years old. A few weeks ago, the BBC showed footage of his funeral. They showed John Carlos and Tommie Smith carrying Peter Norman's casket.
Please read the rest:
http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/36921250/the-forgotten-story-of-australian-olympian-peter-norman

John Carlos and Tommie Smith made a tremendously courageous and meaningful gesture.
Peter Norman should be remembered too.

[malaise]

1. Thank you so much for this article

Rec

[busterbrown]

57. What a great script this would make..

[DeSwiss]

2. Excellent!

K&R

[Lochloosa]

3. I also thank you..sometimes the "rest of the story" is the best. Thank you Peter.

[madokie]

4. I vaguely remember this

Thanks for the reminder

[kaiden]

5. I saw this live on television. I was sixteen.

Poor Norman. Perhaps it is time for his own statute.

[marble falls]

18. I did, too. Where have all those years ago gone? I forgot there were three on the stand.

[Fred Sanders]

6. Human rights are more important than surrendering them to stupid folks who already have theirs.

[DinahMoeHum]

7. John Carlos has an interesting website. . .

http://www.johncarlos68.com/

. . .and The Nation's sportswriter Dave Zirin has a book out titled The John Carlos Story
http://www.amazon.com/John-Carlos-Story-Sports-Changed/dp/1608461270/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417521970&sr=8-1&keywords=the+john+carlos+story

Both the website and the book provide further insights into Peter Norman's story.

Also, Dave Zirin's essay, Brother of the Fist, written back in 2006:
http://www.edgeofsports.com/2006-10-09-202/index.html

Here's Peter Norman with the OPHR button. . .

[oasis]

8. Thanks for posting this. K & R

[Princess Turandot]

9. Article on Norman's funeral..

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/olympic-protest-heroes-praise-normans-courage/2006/10/09/1160246069969.html

There's a photo of Carlos and Smith and others carrying him, with the Chariots of Fire theme accompanying them.

[brer cat]

21. Thank you for adding that link.

That is a very powerful and touching photo.

[BeyondGeography]

10. John Carlos re. Peter Norman

[MuttLikeMe]

39. Oh, man I can hardly see right now I've got so much tears

That was beautiful.

[BeyondGeography]

42. Humans at their absolute finest

It made me cry, too.

[calimary]

46. Wow, what a photo!

So poignant and beautiful. Feels like there's something in my eye...

Thanks for posting this!!! And grits - thank you for posting the OP here! I did not know the rest of that story til you did so.

[calimary]

47. Welcome to DU, MuttLikeMe!

Glad you're here. Hard to see, indeed. I seem to be having the same problem.

[msanthrope]

11. Fantastic OP. Thank you....nt

[FSogol]

12. Cool, thanks for posting. n/t

[vlyons]

13. I remember it well

I was a student at the Univ of TX, Austin.

[a kennedy]

14. I don't know why, but I just burst into tears reading this.......

OMGosh, so moving, and I never heard this. Thank you for posting this.....

[TNNurse]

15. OMG, thank you for posting this

I shared it with my husband who replied... well, that does bring a tear to your eye. I may have had more than one tear.

[heaven05]

16. I will

with the reverence I have for the other two in that iconic photo. thank you.

[marble falls]

17. After reading all the deleed crap Mirt dealt with last night, it was a real pleasure to read this...

a majorly huge thank you for posting this.

[BlueJazz]

19. Boy, the things you learn on DU. Very touching. Even this Australian didn't know it.

Thanks much for posting.

[CanonRay]

20. Thanks for posting this Grits

[brer cat]

22. Great post, grits.

I remember that moment well, but didn't really think about Peter Norman then or later. K&R

[SidDithers]

23. DU rec...

it's threads like this that make DU excellent.

Thanks so very much for posting.



Sid

[WillyT]

24. HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!!

[cwydro]

25. K and R. nt

[Johnyawl]

26. Thank You for posting this

Like most Americans my age (I was 18 that summer and a month away from bootcamp) I knew most of the story of Carlos and Smith. I knew nothing about Peter Norman.

[AllyCat]

27. I had no clue. Thanks for posting this.

[Android3.14]

28. Thanks Grits. here is some more info

A 2012 CNN report

Trailer for the Salute documentary

I couldnt find a source for the actual documentary but here is a link to the page.

And here is what looks like another documentary on it.

[nevergiveup]

29. Wow!

I had no idea. Thanks so much for sharing this.

[cwydro]

30. Kicking. nt

[GGJohn]

31. I remember watching this while sitting in our ready room

at the air base in Dong Ha, very powerful moment and it still gives me goosebumps 46 years later.
Great thread.

[seabeyond]

32. this was interesting. i did not know this. it is a fav picture of mine, of history.

bookmarking for son who will really appreciate the info, if he does not already know.

[Spazito]

33. I had no idea of Peter Norman's story...

Thank you so much for posting this, it is very moving.

[greatlaurel]

34. What a wonderful post. Thank you very much for this information.

Another great day on DU where I learn something new everyday.

The link to Dave Zirin's website. It is now bookmarked to read regularly. He is one of my favorite writers.

[oldandhappy]

35. Thank you very much

I did not know about Norman. I appreciate you post. I am grateful for Norman. He showed a lot of courage.

[grahamhgreen]

36. We got your back.

[niyad]

37. thank you so much for posting this.

[Jim Lane]

38. In 2012, the Australian House of Representatives honored Norman and apologized for his treatment.

In the resolution adopted, the House "acknowledges the bravery of Peter Norman in donning an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge on the podium, in solidarity with African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who gave the ‘black power’ salute"; "belatedly recognises the powerful role that Peter Norman played in furthering racial equality"; and "apologises to Peter Norman for the treatment he received upon his return to Australia, and the failure to fully recognise his inspirational role before his untimely death in 2006."

from "Votes and Proceedings" for 11 October 2012 (scroll down to Item 15 on page 1873)

[MuttLikeMe]

40. Dear white people, please understand this

If you're serious about standing up for the rights of all people, including people of color, then you can't half ass it. You may have to suffer. just like Peter Norman.

There's no getting around it.

That is all.

[Are_grits_groceries]

44. Norman never apologized

or backed down. I have great respect for him for that in addition to my initial respect.

[MuttLikeMe]

54. That's right. You have to have some great courage to endure what he did

and not back down.

[Kalidurga]

41. It's very sad that all it took was saying that there should be equality

and his career was over. Meanwhile hate speech is still protected.

[jwirr]

43. Thank you. Brought tears to my eyes. I knew the story of Carlos and Smith but this part is new to

me. Great respect for Peter Norman.

[rhett o rick]

45. Thank you for posting this. I remember Peter Norman. nm

[Half-Century Man]

48. I'll stand with you............................

And to maintain that stand for decades, to maintain it through racist backlash. To wear it around your neck like an Olympic medal for the rest of your life.

Once again lessons barely understood at the time show us the proper way forward. This is how to get value from the pus bubble that is Ferguson Mo. Stand peacefully together for what is right in public and never back down.

[jimlup]

49. Thanks for that I've always been interested in this story

And I've always felt a kinship with John Carlos and Tommie Smith. Now I also honor Peter Norman.

I was an 11 year old kid when I witnessed this. I remember thinking that it was important and a good thing. And I expected some people to "unhappy" about it but I never expected the backlash that Carlos and Smith would receive. It is an interesting study in our culture. And while they were stripped of their medals that picture has become an historic icon of the time. They are immortalized in it. And in my opinion they are brave young men standing up for their people. What could be more important than that?

[Faygo Kid]

50. I will never forget. Thanks for this.

I have my own problems, too, at 63. But I will never forget this, in 1968.

[hifiguy]

51. A great story.

Thanks for this.

[BobTheSubgenius]

52. What really made that story for me.

Everyone knows the courage it took for Carlos and Smith to do that on the podium, and I hope that I don't appear to be diminishing that in any way. But the third man on that podium had nothing to gain by that except to state his belief in human dignity.

The best part of the story for me was that the two American runners both eulogized Norman, and carried his coffin.

Also, kudos to whoever made the decision to allow them the two places that any number of Australians would have been proud to take. Their three lives were forever linked, and that person gave a great piece of history its due.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

53. Very moving

I remember seeing the Olympics on TV in France in 1968 when I attended the American College in Paris. I remember being aware that Norman was supportive of the protest but I don't remember how he manifested that support.

[lumpy]

55. Great article, heart warming and sad at the same time.

[JEB]

56. K&R for the original post and subsequent informative posts and links.

Very moving.

[SunSeeker]

58. Wow. Amazing.

I know Tommie Smith but I had no idea about Norman. Thanks so much for the post.

[Skittles]

59. I have long admired the actions of that Aussie

it was sad how long it took Australia to realize what a fine human being he was

[Are_grits_groceries]

60. Me too!

He has been one of my heroes for a long time.