Peter Norman

Peter George Norman (15 June 1942 – 3 October 2006) was an Australian track athlete. He won the silver medal in the 200 metres at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, running the race in 20.06 seconds. This time was the fastest ever recorded by someone from Oceania for over 56 years, and he also won the national 200-metre championship five times.

Norman is best remembered for his role in a famous photo from the 1968 Olympics. During the medal ceremony for the 200-metre race, he stood beside two other athletes who made a special gesture to show support for fairness and equality. Norman knew about this gesture beforehand and showed his support by wearing a badge for the Olympic Project for Human Rights. The athletes involved were John Carlos and Tommie Smith. His action remains an important moment in sports history.

Early life

Peter Norman grew up in a strong and caring family that belonged to the Salvation Army. He lived in Coburg, a neighborhood in Melbourne, Victoria. Before becoming famous for running, he worked as an apprentice butcher and later became a teacher. Near the end of his life, he worked for the Victorian Department of Sport and Recreation. During his time as a runner, he was coached by Neville Sillitoe.

Career

Peter Norman was an Australian track athlete who won a silver medal in the 200 metres at the 1968 Olympics. He ran a very fast time of 20.06 seconds, which was a record for many years.

Norman also competed in other big races, like the 1969 Pacific Conference Games in Tokyo and the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. He played Australian rules football for a team called West Brunswick from 1972 to 1977. Later, he worked for Athletics Australia until his death in 2006.

Death

Peter Norman passed away from a heart attack on October 3, 2006, in Melbourne when he was 64 years old. The US Track and Field Federation named October 9, 2006, Peter Norman Day, the day of his funeral. Both his fellow athletes gave speeches and helped carry his coffin at the funeral. At the time of his passing, Norman was survived by his second wife, Jan, and their daughters, as well as his first wife, Ruth, and their children and grandchildren.

Black power salute

Medal ceremony

Main article: 1968 Olympics Black Power salute

After winning his medal at the 1968 Olympics, Peter Norman stood with two other athletes who made a special gesture for human rights during the medal ceremony. They showed their support for fairness and equality for everyone, no matter their background.

Norman showed his support too by wearing a special badge. He helped the two athletes by sharing gloves they used for their gesture. His actions showed his belief in treating all people equally.

Treatment between 1968–1972

After the Olympics, some people said Norman was treated unfairly in Australia. He continued to compete and won medals in other events, but some thought he should have been chosen for the 1972 Olympics. The selection process, however, required certain standards that Norman did not meet at that time.

Recognition

Norman’s brave stand for equality has been remembered in many ways. Artists have created paintings and statues in his honor. Documentaries and books have told his story, showing how he believed in fairness for all people.

Posthumous apology

In 2012, the Australian government officially recognized Norman's achievements and the bravery he showed. They apologized for how he was treated after the Olympics and praised his role in supporting equality for everyone.

Competitive record

Peter Norman was an Australian track athlete. He won a silver medal in the 200 metres at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, finishing with a time of 20.06 seconds. This time was the record for the Oceania 200 m race for over 56 years. He also won the national 200-metre championship five times.

Honours

Peter Norman was recognised with many awards for his achievements in sports. In 1999, he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. In 2000, he received the Australian Sports Medal. After his passing, he was honoured again in 2010 by being inducted into the Athletics Australia Hall of Fame. He also received the Order of Merit from the Australian Olympic Committee in 2018 and The Dawn Award in 2022.