In the past few years, I've been fortunate enough to meet global Olympic icons: Seb Coe, Michael Johnson, Daley Thomson, Carl Lewis, Edwin Moses, Sergey Bubka and Sir Steve Redgrave to name but a few. I've even managed to chat to the duo likely to be the two biggest stars at London 2012 in the form of Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt and American swim king Michael Phelps.

However, the only time I've had goosebumps before shaking the hand of another person was this week – when I met the living legend that is Tommie Smith.

Smith, who is now 68-years-old, will forever be remembered for making that "Black Power" salute at the Mexico City 1968 Olympics in one of the most symbolic moments in the history of the African-American Civil Rights Movement.

It came after the American stormed to gold in the men's 200 metres. His compatriot, John Carlos, took the bronze medal in the race and it was then that both raised a clenched fist clad in a black glove (pictured below) in that iconic stand for human rights.

Such was the power of that moment it is often forgotten that Smith obliterated the world record to take gold with his stunning victory (pictured below) coming in 19.83sec. It made him the first person in history go under the 20-second barrier, and even by today's standards the time is simply phenomenal.

But those few infamous seconds on the podium cost Smith and Carlos the glory they deserved. The majority of people slammed their actions, including the then International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Avery Brundage, who said the pair had disgraced all Americans and that such a political statement had no place at the Games – despite the fact that Brundage had made no objections against Nazi salutes at Berlin in 1936 when he was head of the United States Olympic Committee President.


In an immediate response to their actions Smith and Carlos were suspended from the United States team by Brundage and moved out of the Athletes' Village.

The gesture from the pair had further repercussions, including heavy abuse and even death threats against them and their families upon their return to America and for many years after. It is only in recent years that awards have followed but, almost criminally, neither Smith nor Carlos have yet been inducted into the USOC Hall of Fame.

Smith came to London this week for the premiere of the film Salute which documents the series of events that led to that controversial moment on the podium back in the Sixties.


The film is directed by Matt Norman, the nephew of the Australian 200m silver medallist, Peter Norman, who shared the victory podium that day with Smith and Carlos. The film highlights the surprisingly influential role of Norman, who actually suggested that his fellow medallists wear a black glove on either hand despite only having one pair between them. Like Smith and Carlos, he also wore an Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR) badge to show his support.

The film was shown at a small cinema at the University of Westminster in London and following the screening Smith took to the stage for a standing ovation. He spoke about the difficult times that followed the medal ceremony and how, despite being the fastest man in the world, he became an outcast for what he had done.

"At that time it was something that had to be done and I had the platform to do it," he declared.

"Did I want to do it? No, I didn't," he revealed. "People always ask me if I regret it because it overshadowed my gold medal-winning performance. But my only regret is that I had to do it because of the time we lived in back then. I was blessed that I was able to use my talent to help those that couldn't have the platform I did."

After being hypnotised by Smith's speech from start to finish the end of the evening was suddenly upon us and the legendary figure made to sign some pictures (pictured below) before departing.


Having been aware of the Mexico City story since I was very young, despite the fact that it happened several years before I was born, it was with some apprehension that I approached Smith for a chat.

As I reached him, for no particular reason I spontaneously but wordlessly handed him the insidethegames pin badge I was wearing. He took it and smiled warmly.

"You're a good man," he said to me as he signed my picture. It was then that he held out his right hand for me to shake. I was only too aware it was the same hand that was raised on the Olympic podium in Mexico City some 44 years ago.

Shaking that hand, belonging to such a towering figure in sports history, is a moment I won't ever forget and I left feeling rather humbled.

When London 2012 is over legends will rise and they will be fully worthy of that prestigious status.

But as far as I am concerned, none will ever be as big an icon as Tommie Smith.

Tom Degun is a reporter for insidethegames.