Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Who Is the Third Man in This Iconic Olympic Protest Picture?

Who Is the Third Man in This Iconic Olympic Protest Picture?

Most people have seen this 1968 photo of U.S. Olympic athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos holding up their fists in an epic Black Power protest, but what about the other man in the photo?


That man, Australian athlete Peter Norman, actually played a key role in making this moment happen, and Twitter user Khaya Dlanga recently gave us all a history lesson about Norman's story.

Apparently, Norman, who came in second in the 200 meters, supplied Smith and Carlos with the black gloves the two men wore:

Look closely:

Norman is still the Australian record holder for the 200 meters:

While Norman isn't seen raising his fist, he did wear a badge on his uniform that read, "Olympic Project for Human Rights."

While Smith and Carlos faced a lifetime ban from the Olympics for engaging in the protest, they were treated as heroes by the black community upon arriving back in the United States.

Norman, however, wasn't so lucky:

But Norman refused to back down. He wasn't selected for the 1972 Olympics, and even when Australia hosted the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Norman wasn't invited to participate.

As a result, the U.S. Olympic Committee made arrangements for Norman to be a part of the U.S. delegation.

"At the Sydney Olympics he wasn't invited in any capacity," his nephew, Matthew Norman, told CNN. "There was no outcry. He was the greatest Olympic sprinter in our history."

In 2005, a statue was created with Smith and Carlos in their iconic poses on the campus of San Jose State University. At his request, Norman's position was intentionally left empty, allowing people to pose in solidarity.

Matthew Norman made a 2008 documentary entitled "Salute!" which broke box office records in Australia when it was released, with many hearing Peter Norman's incredible story for the first time.

But Norman wouldn't live to see it, dying of a heart attack in 2006.

Finally, in 2012, Australia issued an official apology to Norman.

So let's salute Norman for standing up for what he believed was right, even in the face of enormous opposition:

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

H/T: Twitter, CNN

More from News

Winnie Harlow; Whitney Houston
PG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images; Peter Jordan/PA Images via Getty Images

Model Winnie Harlow Responds To Backlash Over Her Whitney Houston Halloween Look

Model Winnie Harlow is under fire for a controversial Halloween costume depicting one of Whitney Houston's lowest moments—or highest, depending on who you ask.

Harlow is firmly in the latter camp. But many Houston fans online are furious, even after Harlow explained that her intent was to honor the music legend, not mock her.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Donald Trump; Zohran Mamdani
60 Minutes; Andres Kudacki/Getty Images

Trump Dragged After Making Outrageous Comparison To Zohran Mamdani In Viral Clip

President Donald Trump was widely mocked after he asserted during a 60 Minutes interview with Norah O'Donnell that he's "much better-looking" than New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani—a claim that not a soul is taking seriously.

Trump isn't exactly known to be a looker but he has nonetheless declared himself a "perfect physical specimen" and boasted about his physical prowess, once noting that his own White House physician had declared him "healthier than Obama"—despite Trump's distaste for exercise and fondness for fast food.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gavin Newsom; Karoline Leavit
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Gavin Newsom Rips Karoline Leavitt After She Says White House Toilet 'Horrified' Her Before Renovation

California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and the GOP at large after she claimed to have been "horrified" by the toilet in the Lincoln bathroom before President Donald Trump's marble renovation.

Trump shared an update about ongoing renovations aboard Air Force One while en route to Florida for the weekend, even as the federal government remains shut down and his administration continues to refuse to release all of the emergency funds to sustain SNAP food assistance benefits through November.

Keep ReadingShow less
people seated at bar
Hai Nguyen on Unsplash

People Describe The Most Memorable Moments They Had With A Stranger Who They Never Saw Again

Chance encounters can be meaningful, even if you never see the person again.

Maybe they impart some wisdom or restore your faith in humanity or just entertain you for a little while.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jack Schlossberg (left); Julia Fox (right)
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for HIM Training Camp

Jackie Kennedy's Grandson Slams Julia Fox's 'Disgusting' JFK Assassination Halloween Costume

Of all the 2025 Halloween costumes in the world—from Labubus to K-pop Warriors to Glindas and Elphabas—Julia Fox went with the one soaked in presidential tragedy.

The Uncut Gems actress arrived at a New York City Halloween party in a replica of the pink Chanel suit worn by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy on November 22, 1963—the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.

Keep ReadingShow less