1968 Olympics facts
While investigating facts about 1968 Olympics, I found out little known, but curios details like:
The white Australian silver-medalist, who stood with the two African-American sprinters giving the "black power" salute in the 1968 Olympics, was wearing a Civil Rights button to stand in solidarity with them and did so for the rest of his life despite being ostracized in his own country.
1968, Olympic long jumper Bob Beamon's first attempt exceed the limit of the official measuring equipment. It took over 15 minutes before a distance was posted, and only then did he realize he had broken the world record by nearly 2 feet (0.6m).
In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across. Here are 38 of the best facts about 1968 Olympics I managed to collect.
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In 1968 Olympics, Kip "Kieno" was late for the 1500m final, because he was stuck in traffic. He ran 2 miles to make it to the event on time, and still won the gold. He was also suffering from Gallstones.
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Bob Beamon had a lifelong goal of being the first athlete to ever pass 28 feet in a long jump. After the official measurement coming out to 29 feet and 2.5 inches in the 1968 Olympics, he became so full of emotion that his muscles literally began to collapse.
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Dick Fosbury won the 1968 Olympic High Jump medal by using the hitherto unknown "flop" technique that he himself invented. It remains the most efficient high jumping technique to this day.
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Aussie 200M record holder Peter Norman who won silver at the 1968 Olympics wore a badge to support Americans Smith and Carlos while on the podium during their infamous black power salute. After this he and his family were outcasts in Australia and he couldn't compete in the 72 Olympics.
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In 1968 Olympics, Kip Kieno was late for the 1500m final, because he was stuck in traffic. He ran 2 miles to make it to the event on time, and still won the gold. He was also suffering from Gallstones.
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Peter Norman, the Australian sprinter who took third in the 1968 Olympics and the third athlete in the iconic black power photo. He was shunned in his home country from that moment on for his often unnoticed presence in the photograph.
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Mexico City is 7200 feet above sea level which had a major affect on athletes in the 1968 Olympic games
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The Australian runner who shared the podium with two Americans at the 1968 Olympics was shunned by the Australian Olympic Committee for supporting their political protest
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Speedos were invented in 1928 by Alexander MacRae, a Scottish underwear maker in Australia. The bare-all swim brief only became popular after the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne when the Australian team (all wearing Speedos) won 8 gold medals. By 1968, 27 out of 29 gold medalists wore Speedos.
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Peter Norman, the third man on the iconic black power salute photo from the 1968 Olympics, was treated like an outcast when he returned to Australia and wasn't given a formal apology until 6 years after his death. Both Smith and Carlos were pallbearers at Norman's funeral.
What is true about 1968 olympics?
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Peter Norman declined to be depicted in a statue honoring the 1968 Olympic Black Power salute so visitors could also stand in solidarity
The 1968 Winter Olympics were the first to be shown on TV in color.
Donald Trump married Ivana (Zelnickova Winklmayr) Trump, a 1968 Czech Ski Team Olympic alternate in 1977. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1991. They had three children including Donald, Ivanka, and Eric.
Budokan, the Japanese concert venue, was built to host judo at the 1968 Olympics and will host judo and karate at the 2020 Olympics.
The High Jump has been part of the Olympics since the beginning[1896], but hadn't changed much until an engineering student created the Fosbury Flop in Mexico City [1968]. The Fosbury Flop is now used as the technique in High Jump. - source
The white athlete in the famous 1968 Olympics Black Power Salute picture, Peter Norman, had his career ruined and was treated like an outsider upon returning to Australia.
About Stroller the pony who won Silver for show jumping at the 1968 Olympics despite being a full 30cm shorter than the tallest fences
John Carlos forgot his gloves in the iconic 1968 Olympic Anthem protest, leaving them in the Olympic Village. It was Peter Norman who suggested Carlos wear Smith's left-handed glove. For this reason, Carlos raised his left hand as opposed to his right.
The silver medalist Aussie dude at the 1968 Olympics requested that his space in the California Monument be left empty so visitors could stand in his place and feel what he felt. Also, he suggested to Smith & Carlos to split the gloves since they only brought one pair at the ceremony.
In Mexico City on October 2nd, 1968, 10 days before the opening for the Summer Olympics, hundreds of political protesters were killed by the Mexican Army and it's still remembered as the Tlatelolco Massacre
In the Olympic 3000m steeplechase, Kenya has won all gold medals since 1984; and overall has won 21 out of 36 possible medals since 1968.
