I met Tommie Smith at Lancaster Gate, after he had beaten Commonwealth Champion Wendell Mottley of Trinidad, over 400m in 1966, at the White City Stadium. (45.3 to 45.7) Smith did not like the training for the 400 but still beat the 1968 Olympic and World record holder Lee Evans, over that distance in the States. Tommie Smith’s best time was 44.5 for 400 but he preferred doing the 200 as his event for the Olympics, which he did when winning in Mexico City in the Olympics of 1968. However, he is more remembered for his ‘Black Power’ protest in Mexico, on the presentation Podium, with another American who had won the Final US trials John Carlos, who came 3rd in that Olympic Final. They were protesting at the fact that, at the time, Black people were considered 2nd class citizens in the States. Both Smith and Carlos thrust their clenched black gloved right hands up into the air, when the American victory Anthem was played. They stood to attention, with their black socks on but no shoes! However 2 days later they were suspended by the Olympic Committee and were sent home!
Steve Williams. who won the girst World Cup 100 in 1977 in Germany. spoke to me about that “I think I was doubly impressed with Tommie Smiths build which was pretty close to mine, and his style, which was flawless which I would aspire to be like. Pretty much also, he was someone I really admired because of his black pride and Olympic demonstration and I think what he did was timely. It was a necessary demonstration for black people at the time, a sort of strength and virility which
needed to be demonstrated to young impressionable black people of the United States. I remember reading what Tommie said, that ‘It was odd that he could compete for America’s best but then live as a second class American, I think that suns it up”
16TH OF October 1968.The first 4 in the Olympic Final in Mexico City 1 Tommie Smith (Lane 3) 19.8 WR; 2nd Peter Norman (Lane 6) Australia, in a Commonwealth record 20.0; 3 John Carlos (Lane 4) 20.00; 4 Ed Roberts (Lane 8) 20.3(3rd in Tokyo in 1964 200 final).
Tommie Smith was born in Acworth, Texas,12th of January 1944.
He was 6ft3in tall and weighed 185lbs.
Tommie was a student teacher at San Jose College California.
He had five brothers and seven sisters.
At school basketball was his favorite sport.
Tommie explains “The school coach first introduced me to quarter-miling and I clocked 47.7 for my first one, and so, probably that was my first step towards concentrating on the event. However, I still like the 220 yards better as a race, but train for 400 and 200..
‘The training and coaching at San Jose is good.
’An athlete needs the incentive of coaching, I feel, and although my coach Bus Winter tells me what to do, Sets the training sessions but leaves me to do the work. He is always there at the right moment once he has given me the sessions to do and talked with me about it, I have the incentive to get right on with it, no matter how hard it may be.
As a college student, I get plenty of the right kind of competition on the College circuits. Tommie Smith points out “Relaxation is the key to success in a race. If you relax it helps movement of the limbs. If you do not, then every muscle in your body will contract and you0u will become tense. You must give your muscles plenty of room to move in or you will automatically tie up. When you reach top speed and relax, it helps you maintain that speed. Thisgoes for any athlete what ever the event.
He points out “An athlete should best be one who does not just go out there to please the crowd but rather one to please himself. When he is satisfied with his performance he will have achieved the ultimate at that stage, and will then go to better higher ains- to get that feeling of great satisfaction.’
He had hoped to be an elementary school teacher eventually as he was intrigued by youngsters and how they develop.