The best-known activist sporting moment may be at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City when Tommie Smith and John Carlos – Olympic medal winners – staged a protest against social injustice and racial inequality in America on the medal stand for the men’s 200-meter dash. As the national anthem played, Smith and Carlos raised black glove fists to signify Black Power. The refusal to wear shoes represented the impoverished status of the oppressed black community, Carlos’ beaded necklace represented the lynching many black Americans suffered while Smith’s black scarf represented black pride. Thus, the action, at the height of the 1960s Civil Rights period, was a slap in the face to the status quo of the systemic racism that was ingrained in the fabric of American life. The response to this move was immediate and polarised. The Olympics sent the duo home with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and many Americans outraged. However, despite that backlash, this act became a permanent reminder of athlete activism, generated interest during the civil rights era, and provided credibility to future athlete activism.

Televison, radio, and newspapers were the dominant ways of news distribution at the time of the protest. The Black Power salute was immediately covered by major outlets across the globe. However, the media coverage was alienating. Outlets in the United States viewed the salute as a distraction to the Olympics and condemned the action. There was tons of criticism for making a political statement in a global event. The protest was also reported in international media, but the response varied depending on the political climate of the region. For example, left-leaning media outlets praised Smith and Carlos for bringing attention to racial inequalities in the U.S., while conservative outlets largely condemned the act, focusing on the perceived disrespect toward the flag and the anthem.

Social media would’ve amplified the situation even more. Sites like Twitter and Instagram would’ve gave other athletes and people from across the world a voice to speak on the situation with easy access. There would likely have been more of a push for activism and justice. This would have intensified the dialogue surrounding racial inequality and social justice, increasing the event’s reach far beyond the traditional media coverage of the time.

Tommie Smith and John Carlos were able to play active roles following the salute. They were vocal advocates and provided interviews to give information about the message they wanted to put out. They have been praised for their bravery in the twenty-first century, and their demonstration is sometimes considered to be among the most important instances of political involvement in sports history.

Suppression was the initially the narrative that came from this as it was pushed by major media outlets. The IOC’s decision to expel the athletes and the backlash from the American public seemed to suppress the message of solidarity and activism in favor of a more conservative interpretation of sport as apolitical.