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| The silent gesture by gold medal winner Tommie Smith (center) and bronze medal winner John Carlos (right) remains one of sport's most enduring images. |
GREENVILLE, S.C.—Tommie Smith, the 1968 Olympic gold medalist in the 200 meters who gained worldwide notoriety for bowing his head and raising a black-gloved fist during his medal ceremony, will speak on the Furman University campus Friday, April 11 at 6 p.m. in Timmons Arena.
Smith will speak on “My Stand, Your Challenge” as part of a fundraiser for the university’s Blue Shoes scholarship program. Tickets for the event, which includes dinner, are $45 for the general public. VIP tickets and reserved tables for eight are also available. For ticket information, call 864-294-3435.
Proceeds from the program will go to the university’s Blue Shoes Track Scholarship program, which supports all men’s and women’s cross-country and track and field athletes. The Blue Shoes endowment now stands at $1.8 million.
The Furman Track Invitational and Blue Shoes Mile will take place Saturday, April 12, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., at the Furman track. The day’s activities will include high school and college meets as well as several Blue Shoe mile runs for all levels of runners.
The Furman Invitational will also feature five events as part of a qualifying series for the 2008 Olympic trials (men’s and women’s 1500 meters, men’s and women’s 800 meters, and women’s 100 meters). If their times meet qualifying standards, the nationally ranked athletes participating in the events will earn a spot in this summer’s U.S. Olympic trials.
There is no cost to attend the track events.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Smith’s gold medal-winning performance at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. After winning the 200-meter race in a world-record time of 19.83 seconds, he and teammate (and bronze medal winner) John Carlos raised a clenched fist and bowed their heads on the victory stand during the medal ceremony. The silent gesture, made to protest the plight of African-Americans, created a great deal of controversy and remains one of sport’s most enduring images.
During his track career, Smith held 11 world records simultaneously. After retiring from competition with bests of 10.1 for the 100 meter, 19.83 for the 200m and 44.5 for the 400m, Smith played professional football with the Cincinnati Bengals. He retired from Santa Monica College in 2005, where he coached and taught for 27 years. Smith released his autobiography, Silent Gesture, in 2007.
Smith is the latest prominent track figure to participate in the Blue Shoes program. At the spring 2007 event, 1972 Olympic Gold medalist Dave Wottle was the featured speaker and miler Alan Web became the first person to break the four-minute mark (3:57.83) on a South Carolina track. Frank Shorter, 1972 Olympic Gold medalist in the marathon, spoke at another Blue Shoes fundraiser last fall.
For more information, contact Furman’s Paladin Club office 864-294-3565.
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3-14-08
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