Tommie Smith Researched via: Student Name:zachary mcgillivary Date:4-811

Who is Tommie Smith? The two men were Tommie Smith and John Carlos. Teammates at San Jose State University, Smith and Carlos were stirred by the suggestion of a young sociologist friend Harry Edwards, who asked them and all the other black American athletes to join together and boycott the games. The protest, Edwards hoped, would bring attention to the fact that America's civil rights movement had not gone far enough to eliminate the injustices black Americans were facing. Edwards' group, the Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR), gained support from several world-class athletes and civil rights leaders but the all-out boycott never materialized. Read more: Memorable Olympic Moments: Tommie Smith and John Carlos, Summer 1968

Tommie Smith's accomplishments: In the 1968 Olympic Games at Mexico City, on 16 October, he won the gold medal for the 200 m in a world record time s. He and a teammate, John Carlos, who earned the bronze medal, gave a Black Power salute while receiving their medals. Silver medalist Peter Norman, a white Australian, donned a human rights badge on the podium in support of their protest. (See 1968 Olympics Black Power salute.)

Tommie Smith's schools and affiliations: While attending Lemoore High School, Smith showed great potential, setting most of the school's track records, many of which remain. He won the 440 yard dash in the 1963 CIF California State Meet. His achievements won him a scholarship to San Jose State. On May 7, 1966, Smith set a world best of 19.5 seconds in the 200 meters and 220 yards in 1966, running on a straight cinder track at San Jose State

Gift to Usain Bolt: In August 2008, Tommie Smith gave 2008 Olympic triple gold winner Usain Bolt of Jamaica one of his shoes from the 1968 Olympics as a birthday gift

What do you like to the most about Tommie Smith? Something I like most about Tommie smith is Smith won the 200-meter dash finals in seconds – the first time the 20 second barrier was broken. His Black Power salute with John Carlos atop the medal podium caused controversy at the time as it was seen as politicizing the Olympic Games. It remains a symbolic moment in the history of the African-American Civil Rights Movement.