Peter Norman
 |
|
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Peter George Norman |
| Born |
15 June 1942 Coburg, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 3 October 2006 (aged 64) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Weight | 73 kg (161 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Country |
 Australia
|
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event(s) | Sprint |
| Club | East Melbourne Harriers |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | 20.06 s (200 m, 1968) |
|
Medal record
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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, with a time of 20.06 seconds which remains the Australian 200 metres record. He was a five-time Australian 200 m champion. He is also known for his support of John Carlos and Tommie Smith when they made their famous raised-fist gesture at the 1968 Olympics medal ceremony. Norman is the third, less publicly known athlete in the famous photo of the black power salute from the 1968 Olympics shown below.
Norman grew up in a devout Salvation Army family living in Coburg, a suburb of Melbourne in 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.
Norman was conflicted with some aspects of Salvation Army beliefs including competing on the Sabbath.
The 200 metres at the 1968 Olympics started on 15 October and finished on 16 October; Norman won his heat in a time of 20.17 seconds which was briefly an Olympic record. He won his quarter final and was second in the semi.
On the morning of 16 October, U.S. athlete Tommie Smith won the 200 metre final with a world-record time of 19.83 seconds. Norman finished second in a time of 20.06 s, after catching and eventually passing U.S. athlete John Carlos at the finish line. Carlos finished in third place in 20.10 s. Norman's time was his all-time personal best and an Australian record that still stands.
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Wikipedia