Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author—Public domain
Tommie Smith
- Born
- Jun 6, 1944 (82 years old)
- Birthplace
- Clarksville, United States
- Events
- 400 m · 200 m
- Height
- 1.91 m
- Weight
- 86 kg
- Club
- Cincinnati Bengals
Tommie C.
Smith (born June 6, 1944) is an American former track and field athlete and wide receiver in the American Football League.
At the 1968 Summer Olympics, Smith, aged 24, won the 200-meter sprint finals and gold medal in 19.83 seconds – the first time the 20-second barrier was broken officially. His Black Power salute with John Carlos atop the medal podium caused controversy, as it was seen as politicizing the Olympic Games. It remains a symbolic moment in the history of the Black Power movement.
As of Oct 27, 2026: 400 m 44.5h (#642 all-time), 200 m 19.83 (#47 all-time), 1968 season best 19.83 (Oct 16, 1968, Estadio Olímpico, Ciudad de México (MEX)) · Olympic Games: 1 gold · 82 years old
Personal bests
WA points calculator →Medals
| Competitions | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | 1 | – | – | 1 |
Progression
| Season | Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 200m | 19.83 | +0.9 | Oct 16, 1968 | Estadio Olímpico, Ciudad de México (MEX) |
| 1967 | 200m | 20.0h | +1.8 | Jun 10, 1967 | Provo, UT (USA) |
| 1967 | 400m | 44.5h | – | May 20, 1967 | – |
| 1967 | 400m-short-track | 45.9h | – | Feb 18, 1967 | – |
| 1967 | 4x200Metre | 1:22.1h | – | May 13, 1967 | – |
| 1966 | LJ | 7.90 | – | Apr 23, 1966 | San José (USA) |
| 1966 | 100m | 10.1h | +1.0 | May 21, 1966 | Ciudad de México (MEX) |
| 1966 | 200m-short-track | 19.4h | +1.9 | May 7, 1966 | – |