SHUNNED for his involvement in the black power salute at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Australian sprinter Peter Norman has received a posthumous apology from the Australian Parliament.
Norman died at his Williamstown home on October 3, 2006, aged 64.
The champion sprinter was this week praised for his athletic ability and his courage in standing in solidarity with US athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos as they gave a black power salute during a medal ceremony.
Norman, who had won silver, wore an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge.
It’s a widely held belief that Norman was punished for his civil rights stance by being shut out of the 1972 Munich Games despite qualifying. He quit his sport in protest.
Smith and Carlos gave eulogies and were pallbearers at Norman’s funeral at Williamtown Town Hall on October 9, 2006.
Carlos told ABC Radio yesterday that the apology came too late. “I don’t think he was as bitter as he was hurt … and I don’t think he ever recovered.”
More than 40 years on, Norman’s time of 20.06 seconds in the 200-metre sprint remains an Australian record.
