October 19, 2008

I had no idea who the other medallist was. (Or why there was one left handed salute and one right handed).

Peter Norman died in 2006 after a number of years of ill-health. Among his pall bearers were the two USA sprinters who he stood with at the Mexico Olympics.

  • Ahem. "It was Norman who, when John Carlos found he'd forgotten his black gloves, suggested the two runners shared Smith's pair, wearing one each on the podium." RTFA, polychrome! Great post!
  • He DID use the past tense, fish.
  • The pessimist says: I forgot my black gloves. The optimist says:   Here, use my left glove. The topologist says: If you turn that left glove inside out it will fit on your right hand.
  • Oops! Didn't catch that past tense bit. Profound apologies, polychrome! *stands in corner*
  • "If it doesn't fit, it's a left, you twit!"
  • It's cool fish tick. I get that a lot you know. A long line of past tense article readers, both effed and not, I do come from, and a sorely misunderstood tribe we are.
  • Wow I had no idea about this story polychrome so thank you.
  • Agreed. Great story, very sad for Norman that he never got recognition in Australia for making a stand with the other men.
  • What gets me is that the story goes that he was shunned by the Australian olympic organisers at Sydney, and then warmly welcomed by the (rightly, if true) outraged US team
  • What a guy!
  • Great story--I had no idea. Very moving, especially that the US athletes were his friends for life and served as pall bearers. Thanks for this. )))))!