John Wesley Carlos (born June 5, 1945) is a former American track and field athlete and bronze-medal winner of the 200 m run at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

Biography

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Born in Harlem, New York, he was a gifted High School athlete and outstanding student who went on to study at East Texas State University on a full track and field scholarship. His athletic skills were the major reason ETSU won its first Lone Star Conference Championship. However after his first year, Carlos matriculated to San Jose State College where he was trained by future National Track & Field Hall of Fame coach, Lloyd (Bud) Winter.

In 1967, John Carlos became a founding member of the Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR) that was initially created to organize a boycott of the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. At the 1968 Olympic Trials, John Carlos stunned the track world when he won the 200 meters in 19.92 s, beating world record holder Tommie Smith and surpassing his record by 0.3 seconds. Though the record was never ratified because the spike formation on Carlos' shoes wasn't accepted at the time, the race reinforced his status as a world-class sprinter.

Following his third place finish behind fellow African-American Smith and Australian Peter Norman in the 200 meters at the Mexico Olympics, at the medal award ceremony John Carlos and Smith made headlines around the world when they raised their black-gloved fists. Since the gloves they wore were a pair, Peter Norman suggested that they each wear one on the opposite hand. Smith said he had raised his right fist to represent black power in America, while Carlos raised his left fist to represent black unity. Together they formed an arch of unity and power. Both athletes wore black socks and no shoes on the podium to represent black poverty in America. In support, Peter Norman, the silver medalist who was a white athlete from Australia, participated in the protest by wearing an OPHR badge.

Many people felt that a domestic political statement had no place in the apolitical, international forum of the Olympic Games. In an immediate response to their actions, Smith and Carlos were suspended from the U.S. team and banned from the Olympic Village. Those that opposed the protest cried out that the actions disgraced all Americans. Many supporters, on the other hand, praised the men for bravery. The men's gesture had lingering effects for both Smith and Carlos, the most serious of which were death threats against them and their families.

Carlos had his greatest year in track and field in 1969, equaling the world 100-yard record of 9.1, winning the AAU 220-yard run, and leading San Jose State to its first NCAA championship with victories in the 100 and 220 and as a member of the 4x110-yard relay. He was also the gold medalist at 200 meters at the 1967 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and set indoor world bests in the 60-yard dash (5.9) and 220-yard dash (20.2).

Following his track career, Carlos tried professional football, where a knee injury curtailed his one-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. He then went on to the Canadian Football League where he played one season each for the Montreal Alouettes and the Toronto Argonauts. Following his retirement from football, Carlos worked for the Puma Company, the United States Olympic Committee, and the City of Los Angeles.

In 1985, John Carlos became a counselor and in-school suspension supervisor as well as the Track & Field Coach, at Palm Springs, California High School. In 2003, he was elected to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame.

1945 births | Living people | American track and field athletes | Olympic competitors for the United States | Athletes at the 1968 Summer Olympics

John Carlos