John Carlos

At the 1968 Olympic Trials, John Carlos stunned the track world when he beat Tommie Smith in the 200 meter finals and surpassed Smith's world record by 0.3 second. Though the record was never ratified because the spike formation on Carlos' shoes wasn't accepted at the time, the race reinforced his status as a world-class sprinter. At the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Carlos earned bronze in the 200-meter. During the award ceremony he courageously stood up for racial equality on the world’s largest stage during the civil movement, with his black-gloved fist raised in the air and removing shoes, alongside teammate Tommie Smith. This act established a legacy of championing for equal rights that continues to inspire activists today.

Carlos had his greatest year in 1969, equaling the world 100-yard record of 9.1, winning the AAU 220-yard run, and leading San Jose State to its first NCAA championship with victories in the 100 and 220 and as a member of the 4x110-yard relay. Carlos was also gold medalist at 200 meters at the 1967 Pan-American Games and set indoor world bests in the 60-yard dash (5.9) and 220-yard dash (20.2). Prior to his successful collegiate career at San Jose State University under Hall of Fame coach Bud Winter, Carlos attended East Texas State University, where he single-handedly won the school's first Lone Star Conference Championship. Following his track career, Carlos tried professional football, where a knee injury curtailed his one-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles. He then went on to the Canadian Football League where he played one season each for the Montreal Alouettes and the Toronto Argonauts. In 1985, he became a counselor and in-school suspension supervisor at Palm Springs (Calif.) High School.

In 2008, he accepted the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage for his salute, at the 2008 ESPY Awards and was recognized at the White House by President Obama in 2016. Carlos continues to work for human rights and is a founding member of the Olympic Project for Human Rights.