Tommie Smith (born June 6, 1944, Clarksville, Texas, U.S.) is a former sprinter who made history at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, where he won the 200-meter dash in 19.83 seconds—the first time that the distance was run in less than 20 seconds. During the medal ceremony, Smith attracted international attention when he and teammate John Carlos gave the Black Power salute. It became a defining moment in the civil rights movement and an enduring example of athlete activism.
Smith attended San Jose (California) State College, where he also was a member of the school’s track team. During his collegiate career, he set world records for the 220-yard (straightaway) dash and was a member of a 4 × 200-meter relay team that set a world record (1967–70) of 1 minute 22.1 seconds. In addition, from 1965 to 1979 he held the record for the straightaway 200-meter dash, his best time being 19.5 seconds.
In 1968 Smith competed at the Olympics, where he overcame an injury to win the gold medal in the 200-meter race. While his record-setting run made news, more attention was given to the medal ceremony. During the playing of the national anthem, Smith and Carlos—both of whom were shoeless to highlight the poverty of Black Americans—raised black-gloved fists to protest the mistreatment of African Americans. The U.S. Olympic Committee subsequently ordered the duo to leave Mexico, though both were done competing. While applauded by some, the two men were largely disparaged by the press, and both Smith and Carlos received death threats.
After graduating in 1969, Smith played professional football with the Cincinnati Bengals for three years. He later became a track coach at Oberlin (Ohio) College, where he also taught sociology, and at Santa Monica (California) College. He was inducted into the (U.S.) National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1978. Smith’s autobiography, Silent Gesture (cowritten with David Steele), was published in 2007. The following year he received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.