On This Day In Sports: Tommie Smith and John Carlos Are Suspended For “Black Power” Salute During 1968 Olympic Medal Ceremony

On this day in sports: October 18, 1968 U.S Sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos are suspended by the U.S Olympic Committee for their political statement made during the medal ceremony at the 1968 Mexico City Games the previous day. The Gold and Bronze Medal winners, wearing a black leather glove, long black socks, and no shoes simultaneously raised their gloved fist displaying the universal symbol of “Black Power” in protest of the inequality between African American’s and the rest of the citizens of the United States.

The gesture created mixed emotions for the two medal winning sprinters. Supporters praised the two men for their bravery and willingness to make the statement on such a large public stage, while those not in agreement went as far as to make serious death threats towards the two men and their families.

On This Day In Sports: US Sprinter Jim Hines Breaks First Official 10 Second Barrier

On this day in sports: October 14, 1968 American Sprinter Jim Hines breaks the world’s first official 10 second barrier in the 100 Meter Dash, clocking in at an electronic 9.95 seconds. This amazing record stood for 15 years and won Hines his 1st Olympic Gold Medal. Hines won another Gold Medal during the same 1968 Mexico City Olympics as a member of the 4 x 100 Meter Relay team.

On This Day In Sports: The Fastest Women In The World, Florence Griffith-Joyner, Dies

On this day in sports: September 21, 1998, American Sprinter and the “fastest woman in the world” to this day Florence Griffith-Joyner dies at the age of 38 due to complications with epilepsy. Griffith-Joyner competed in 2 Olympic Games (1984 Los Angeles, California and 1988 Seoul, South Korea) where she broke the 200 meter World Record at 21.34 seconds. Griffith-Joyner mostly known to the world as Flo-Jo aslo holds the World Record in the Women’s 100 Meter Dash at 10.49 seconds which she set at the 1987 Track and Field World Championships. Flo-Jo retired from competetive Track and Field with 5 total Olympic Game medals (3 Gold and 2 Silver) following the 1988 Olympics to pursue other career interest in fashion design and crafts.

As mentioned above her records still stand and no female sprinter has yet to come close to breaking either of them.