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— FLICKFLAPP (@FLICKFLAPP) August 5, 2014

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This is one of the most famous moments in Olympic Sport. LIFE magazine and Le Monde named it one of the 20 most influential images of the 20th century.

Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their gloved fists to express opposition to racism in the U.S.

But who’s that other guy? The silver medalist at the Olympics?

Australian sprinter Peter Norman.

… What you cannot see in the photo is that Norman was wearing a badge that read: “Olympic Project For Human Rights,” which he had borrowed from Paul Hoffman, a white member of the U.S. rowing team.

“I believe that every man is born equal and should be treated that way,” Norman told reporters after the ceremony.

You probably know that all hell broke loose after that. The IOC immediately suspended Carlos and Smith from the U.S. team and expelled them from the Olympic Village. The two men received much abuse when they came home — including death threats — and were ostracized for a long while. But, like I say, you probably knew that.

What you may not have known — what I did not know — was that Peter Norman also went through his own personal turmoil after Mexico City. …

THE FORGOTTEN STORY OF PETER NORMAN

That’s an incredible morality tale. One I’ve never known.

THE funeral service for Peter Norman ended with the theme music from Chariots of Fire and a scene no less dramatic than any in that famous film.

The two pallbearers at the front carrying Norman’s coffin from the Williamstown Town Hall were Tommie Smith and John Carlos …

‘Tell your kids about Peter Norman’

(via Amanda Turner)

This is fascinating. No doubt some of the key coaches in Soviet gymnastics history remember some of these stories differently.

Round Lake dry?

Legendary coach Leonid Arkayev talks about his personal gymnastics history, the success of the Soviet team and Simone Biles in this summary of a Sport Express interview. He also shares his opinion of the current Russian gymnastics regime.

Rewriting Russian Gymnastics – Leonid Arkayev : interview with Elena Vaitsekhovskaya

Leigh Robson:

No one would deny that Canadian Olympic Trampoline hopeful Sam Sendel enjoys life. When you watch her action-packed YouTube videos, you know that she lives life to the fullest. Her talent, athletic success as a World Class Trampoline gymnast and joie de vivre makes her a role model to many. …

In conjunction with the Canadian Olympic Committee’s announcement of new initiatives to support LGTB athletes, Sam has come out publicly with her identity as a lesbian athlete. About Canada’s new LGTB initiatives, she told SBNation Outsports Magazine:

“As a gay athlete, I’m touched deeply,” Sendel said of the COC’s initiative. “I’m hoping it will help prevent the younger generations from feeling like they need to hide who they are. That was a big issue for me. I think it will really make a difference.”

The goal of the initiatives is to combat homophobia and anti-gay bias in sports. While this is a Canadian program, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently adopted new guidelines protecting athletes traveling to foreign countries to compete in the Olympics to include LGTB athletes. …

read more on Trampoline Pundit

If you appreciate Sam’s courage, send her a tweet @SamSendel.

Actually, the Canadian T&T program is very Gay friendly.

(via Leigh Robson @TrampPundit)

Now that’s a tuck position. 🙂

The IOC is boasting unanimous approval of the 40 recommendations that make up Olympic Agenda 2020.

They could go into effect for Pyeongchang 2018 and Tokyo 2020.

Ollie Williams provides some analysis:

At Monday’s extraordinary IOC session in Monaco, members rubber-stamped a series of 40 much-hyped “Agenda 2020? recommendations for change to the way the Olympics is run – some of them substantial, including:

Abolition of the 28-sport cap limiting the summer Olympic programme, accompanied by a shift to measuring the programme in terms of events, rather than sports

Host cities can propose the inclusion of specific events for their Games

Changes to make the system of bidding for the Games more flexible and, hopefully, cheaper

One such change is the ability for cities, regions and countries to mount joint bids for the Olympics (in “exceptional cases” only, mind)

A new, worldwide Olympics TV channel, carrying archive alongside some live sport with a $600m budget over seven years

Amended wording of the Olympic charter to specifically note the Games should be free of discrimination based on sexual orientation

read more – Links special: a day of change for the Olympic Games

Sports where one athlete could potentially win 8 medals (swimming, gymnastics) are vulnerable, I feel.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via Couch Gymnast)

I’m often surprised how easily a brave, strong male gymnast can do advanced Beam tumbling.

For example, Dom Palange, a coach at UCLA coach Chris Waller’s Gym Jam.

To see more of Dom’s skills, click over to mcsmaria – Because Real Men Do Beam