Olympics protesters make Norman tribute

[Fiona]

Smith and John Carlos have paid tribute to the "inner power" of the third figure in their famous Olympic protest, Australian sprinter and civil rights supporter Peter Norman, who died on Tuesday from a heart attack aged 64.

In what has become one of sport's most enduring images, black Americans Smith and Carlos stood barefooted, heads bowed with single raised black-gloved fists during the 200m medal ceremony at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics in silent protest at racial discrimination in the US.

Norman, on the dais by virtue of claiming silver in a still-standing Australian record of 20.06 seconds, wore a human rights badge in solidarity and later publicly supported the protest despite the ensuing furore.

Nearly four decades on, the American duo were still full of admiration for Norman's courage and humanitarian spirit.

"It wasn't about black or white," Carlos said Tuesday. "It was just about humanity, faith in God and faith in making it a better world."

Speaking at home in Georgia, the 62-year-old Smith said Norman's stand was courageous and resonated long after the games.

"It took inner power to do what he did, inner soul power," Smith said.

"It was a weight that is very heavy, and it is still heavy.

"He was a man of solid beliefs, that's how I will remember Peter - he was a humanitarian and a man of his word."

Speaking from Palm Springs, California, the 61-year-old Carlos said Norman faced his own struggles upon returning to Australia after the Olympics.

"We had our cross to bear here in the United States," Carlos said.

"Peter had a bigger cross to bear because he didn't have anyone there to help shield him other than his family. He had to go through agony and torment. He took it like a soldier."

Smith said he talked infrequently with Norman over the years, but they reconnected last year at Smith's home in Los Angeles before the unveiling of a commemorative statue.

"He believed in giving himself unto others - he would much rather remove himself and let others take his place," Smith said.

"I can understand now, since Peter's gone, he left that vacancy so others could stand in his place, and that was quite awesome."

Carlos said he and Norman had stayed in touch by e-mail.

"His sincerity, his love for humanity, his kind thoughts - those are things that I will remember," Carlos said. "He was a giving person."

theage.com.au