As the 40th anniversary of the 1968 Olympics approaches, I’ve run into a few histories of the ‘Black Power Salute,’ the Olympic Project for Human Rights, and the threatened boycotts of the event by many African American athletes.

Not well known about that iconic photo over on the right — of the medalists in the 200 meters, with Tommie Smith and John Carlos saluting — is the role that was played in its crafting by the silver medalist, Peter Norman of Australia.

As intro to his bad ass-ness, know that Australia blocked Norman from participating in the 1972 Olympics — despite his qualifying time — and that when Norman died a couple of years ago, Smith and Carlos were pall-bearers at his funeral.

Here’s a piece by Dave Zirin, written about Norman upon his passing:

Less noticed is the silver medalist. He is hardly mentioned in official retrospectives, and people assume him to be a Forrest Gump-type figure, just another of those unwitting witnesses to history who always end up in the back of famous frames. Only the perceptive notice that this seemingly anonymous individual is wearing a rather large button emblazoned with the letters O-P-H-R, standing for the Olympic Project for Human Rights.

The backlash endured by Smith and Carlos is well documented. Less known are Norman’s own travails. He was a pariah in the Australian Olympic world, despite being a five-time national champion in the 200 meters. He desired to coach the highest levels, yet worked as a Physical Education teacher, the victim of a down under blacklist.

As John Carlos said, “At least me and Tommie had each other when we came home. When Peter went home, he had to deal with a nation by himself. He never wavered, never denied that he was up there with us for a purpose and he never said ‘I’m sorry’ for his involvement. That’s indicative of who the man was.”

And, perhaps most telling, was this scene:

Norman never strayed from a life of humility. When a sculpture was unveiled of Smith and Carlos last year in California, Norman was left off, the silver medal platform purposely vacant so others could stand in his place. Smith and Carlos protested it, feeling it fed the false idea of Norman as political bystander. But Norman himself who traveled from Australia to California for the unveiling said, “I love that idea. Anybody can get up there and stand up for something they believe in. I guess that just about says it all.”

Anyway, there’s a new documentary opening about Peter Norman, his athletic career, and his involvement in the civil rights movement.  Salute’s just in Australia for now, but might make its way to the States too.

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