Peter Norman

Peter George Norman (June 15, 1942 – October 3, 2006) was an Australian track athlete best known for winning the silver medal in the 200 metres at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. His time of 20.06 seconds still stands as the Australian 200m record [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/10/03/sports/s134428D40.DTL Beth Harris & Jordan Robertson, "Australian Sprinter Peter Norman Dies", October 3., 2006] ] . He was a five-time Australian 200m champion.

1968 Olympics

The gold and bronze medalists in the 200m at the 1968 Olympics were Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos, respectively. On the medal podium, during the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner", Smith and Carlos famously joined in a Black Power salute.

What is less known is that Norman, a white Australian, donned a badge on the podium in support of their cause, the Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR). On the way out to the medal ceremony, Norman saw the badge being worn by Paul Hoffman, a white member of the US Rowing Team and asked him if he could wear it.Fact|date=August 2008 It was also Norman who suggested that Smith and Carlos share the black gloves used in their salute, after Carlos had left his gloves in the Olympic Village.Fact|date=August 2008 This is the reason for Tommie Smith raising his right fist, while John Carlos raised his left. Asked about his support of Smith and Carlos' cause by the world's press, Norman said he opposed his country's government's White Australia policy.

Australia's Olympic authorities reprimanded him and the Australian media ostracised him. Despite Norman running qualifying times for both the 100m and 200m during 1971/72 the Australian Olympic track team did not send him, or any other sprinters, to the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, the first ever modern Olympics where no Australian sprinters participated.

Biography

Norman grew up in Coburg, Victoria. Initially an apprentice butcher, Norman later became a teacher, and worked for the Victorian Department of Sport and Recreation towards the end of his life.cite news|first=Phillippa|last=Hawker|title=Salute to a champion|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/film/salute-to-a-champion/2008/07/14/1215887536424.html|publisher=The Age|date=2008-07-15|accessdate=2008-07-15] Before the 1968 Olympics Norman was a trainer for West Brunswick Football Club as a way of keeping fit over winter during the athletic circuit's off season. After 1968 he played 67 games for West Brunswick between 1972 and 1977 before coaching an under 19 team in 1978. Norman kept running, but contracted gangrene in 1985 after tearing his Achilles Tendon during a training session, which nearly led to his leg being amputated. Depression and heavy drinking followed.

Norman was overlooked by Australian organising authorities as being involved in any way with the 2000 Summer Olympics held in Sydney; he was however eventually part of the event after being invited by the Americans when they heard that his own country had omitted to do socite news|first=Jim|last=Schembri|title=Salute|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/film-reviews/breviewb-emsaluteem-is-a-film-worthy-of-our-praise-and-our-thanks/2008/07/17/1216163014304.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1|publisher=The Age|date=2008-07-17|accessdate=2008-07-18] . On October 17, 2003 San Jose State University unveiled a statue commemorating the 1968 Olympic protest; Norman was not included as part of the statue itself - his empty podium spot intended for others viewing the statue to "take a stand" - but was invited to deliver a speech at the ceremony.

Norman died of a heart attack on October 3, 2006 in Melbourne, Australia at the age of 64. US Track and Field Federation proclaimed October 9, 2006, the date of his funeral, as Peter Norman Day. Both Smith and Carlos gave eulogies and were pallbearers at Norman's funeral.

Peter Norman is the uncle to Australian film-maker and actor Matt Norman who has directed and produced the cinema-released documentary "Salute" about the three runners through Paramount Pictures and Transmission Films.

References

ee also

*1968 Olympics Black Power Salute

External links

* [http://www.salutethemovie.com/ SALUTE - The Movie webpage (directed by Peter Norman's nephew Matt Norman)]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0874317/ Peter Norman on IMDB.com]

Articles

* [http://olympics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/23/for-australian-athletes-a-voice-from-the-grave/ New York Times - For Australian Athletes, a Voice From the Grave May 23, 2008]
* [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23747461-2,00.html In-flight film will urge Olympians to protest - Sydney Daily Telegraph May 24, 2008]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/film/the-white-guy-becomes-a-hero-on-film/2008/05/07/1210131072250.html Sydney Morning Herald "white man becomes hero on film"]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/05/12/1210444335427.html Sydney Morning Herald 13/5/2008]
* [http://www.theage.com.au/news/geoff-mcclure/sporting-life/2005/10/16/1129401146439.html Sporting Life]
* [http://www.morelandleader.com.au/article/2008/08/04/40333_cov_news.html Moreland Leader 4/8/08]
* [http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20517518-23218,00.html Fox Sports]
* [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2006-10-03-norman-obit_x.htm USA Today]
* [http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,20541398-10389,00.html The Courier Mail]
* [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20531202-2862,00.html The Herald Sun]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/10/03/1159641325056.html Sydney Morning Herald]
* [http://www.wisewords.com.au/staging/news/newsApr04.html Wise Words]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2006/s1760175.htm ABC TV - 7.30 Report]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/05/12/1210444335427.html Sydney Morning Herald 13/5/2008]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20010701060753/www.dallasnews.com/sports_day/olympics/180747_29olyblackistone.html "'68 protest more than a memory"] , Kevin Blackistone, "Dallas Morning News", September 29, 2000
* [http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Peter-Norman-dies-after-heart-attack/2006/10/03/1159641313355.html "Peter Norman dies after heart attack"]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/10/03/1159641325056.html "He Didn't Raise His Fist - But He Did Lend A Hand"]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/olympics/articles/2004/06/18/1089484304254.html "Bitter price of Olympics' iconic image"]
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/04/AR2006100401753.html "Clenched Fists, Helping Hand" by Mike Wise, Washington Post]
* [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20550419-2722,00.html "Norman Remembered as an Unflinching Champion"]
* [http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusspt/ap10-09-061941.asp?spt=oly&vts=10920060724 MSNBC article on Carlos and Smith's pallbearer role]
* [http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/oct2006/norm-o23.shtml World Socialist Web Site Article on Peter Norman]
* [http://gdayworld.thepodcastnetwork.com/2008/07/07/gday-world-333-matt-norman-directorproducer-salute "Matt Norman, Director/Producer 'Salute'"] (podcast: nephew of Peter Norman discusses new documentary about Peter's role in the Black Power Salute)