Australian sprinter Peter Norman's support for civil rights has been recognised.
Norman, who died in 2006, was the silver medallist in the 200 metre race at the Mexico Olympics. He was the white man on the podium when US African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos as made their iconic 'Black Power' protest.
Smith and Carlos bowed their heads and raised their black-gloved fists during the US national anthem in a protest against racial discrimination. Norman didn't, but did wear a badge supporting human rights.
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) announced it has awarded a posthumous Order of Merit to Norman, whose Australian record for the 200m race still stands 50 years later.
"This is an overdue award - the respect for Peter and his actions is still enormous to this day," said AOC president John Coates.
"We lost Peter in 2006 but we should never lose sight of his brave stand that day."
Norman never raced again for Australia, although the AOC has long denied he was blacklisted. He qualified for the 1972 Olympics, but wasn't sent to compete.
The Australian Parliament apologised to him in 2012 for failing to "fully recognise his inspirational role before his untimely death".
Smith and Carlos, for their efforts, received death threats and abuse once back home. They were pallbearers at Norman's funeral in 2006.
Newshub.
