History

The over polite fiction is that the Olympics are somehow above politics. Of course, they never have been, but in 1968 politics became a much more noticeable aspect of the Olympic scene than ever before.

The choice of Mexico City had been controversial anyway. The high altitude, more than 7500 feet above sea level, meaning a 30-percent reduction in available oxygen, was the problem that most critics fastened on. But there was also the fact that the Olympics had never before been awarded to an underdeveloped country, and there were doubts as to whether Mexico could possibly be ready in time.

The International Olympic Committee added its own untimely controversy by deciding to readmit segregated South Africa to competition, on the grounds that the country planned to enter an integrated team.

About 40 countries announced that they would boycott the games if South Africa were admitted. In the United States, sociologist Harry Edwards was already trying to persuade black athletes to boycott the Olympics, and his movement, the Olympic Project for Human Rights, gained even more momentum.

The IOC eventually decided to continue its ban of South Africa, and the boycotts didn't take place. Nevertheless, the Black Power movement was to manifest itself in Mexico City.

About two months before the Olympics, Warsaw Pact troops moved into Czechoslovakia to put down an anti-Soviet uprising. Czech gymnast Vera Caslavska, who had signed a resolution advocating democratic change, had to go into hiding in a small town where she couldn't train. She, too, was make a reappearance at the Olympics.

Ten days before the opening ceremonies, students demonstrated in Mexico City as part of a movement that had begun several months earlier. Troops fired into the crowd, killing about 250 unarmed demonstrators.

Despite all the doubts and turmoil, the Olympics went on as planned. The high altitude did take its toll on distance runners, but it also contributed to some remarkable records in shorter events. Bob Beamon's long jump of 29 feet 2 1/2 inches, the first jump ever to exceed 28 feet, was the most dramatic example, but there were others. Lee Evans' time of 43.86 in the 400-meter run stood for nearly 20 years; the United States 4x100-meter relay team set a record of 2:56.16 that lasted 24 years; and two triple jumpers exceeded the former world record without even winning medals, because three other competitors broke the record by even greater margins.

There were many other highlights. Al Oerter won his fourth gold medal in the discus. Dick Fosbury started a revolution in the high jump by winning the event with his unorthodox "Fosbury Flop," clearing the bar head first and backwards. Wyomia Tyus became the first runner of either sex to repeat as the 100-meter champion, and Debbie Myer became the first swimmer to win three individual gold medals at a single Olympics.

The biggest winner, though, was Vera Caslavska. After three weeks in hiding, she was given permission to compete in Mexico City. She responded by winning six medals, four gold and two silver. A day after the gymnastics competition ended, Caslavska was married to Josef Odlozil, a runner on the Czech track team.

Tommie Smith turned in perhaps the most courageous victory of the Olympics. He suffered a severe groin pull in the semi-finals of the 200-meter and thought he would probably be unable to run in the final. But he made it to the starting line, his thighs heavily wrapped in tape. Somehow, he fought through the pain and not only won the gold medal but set a new record of 19.83 seconds.

Smith's teammate at San Jose State, John Carlos, finished third. They were both members of the Olympic Project for Human Rights and they had agreed to stage some kind of protest if they won medals.

When Smith and Carlos mounted the dais for the victory ceremony, they wore black socks and no shoes. Each wore one black glove, Smith on his right hand, Carlos on his left hand. When the National Anthem began, they lowered their heads, refusing to look at the flag, and each raised his gloved fist in the Black Power salute.

The IOC ordered the U. S. Olympic Committee to ban Smith and Carlos from further competition and to throw them out of the Olympic Village. To its credit, the USOC initially refused. Then the IOC threatened to ban the entire U. S. track and field team from competition, forcing the USOC to give in.

Incidentally, this was the same IOC that had declined to comment when Mexican troops shot down students, calling it "an internal affair."

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