Australian sprinter Norman dies

Norman (left) became part of sporting history

Australian sprinter Peter Norman, who stood on the podium during the American "black power salute" at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, died on Tuesday.

Norman, who died of a heart attack aged 64, was the 200m silver medallist, splitting Tommie Smith and John Carlos.

The Americans raised a black-gloved hand in salute and bowed their heads during the national anthem in protest at racial discrimination in the USA.

Norman wore a human rights badge on the podium in support of the two Americans.

The protest caused outrage in the Olympic movement, particularly in the US, and Smith and Carlos were immediately sent home from the Games.

"I was happy to identify with (Smith) and the principles he believed in," Norman said later of the incident.

"I didn't get off nearly as bad as the other guys. People don't realise that for those two guys they sacrificed their lives for a cause they believed in. And it was peaceful and non-violent.

"Every emotion turned loose on them, there was vocal retaliation."

Norman said he kept in touch with Smith and Carlos over the years and had lost the badge Carlos awarded him but he retained several copies of the famous newspaper picture of the "salute".

"To be involved in a very small way in history like that, it lives with you forever," Norman said. "It's a bond."

Norman's time of 20.06 seconds from that Olympic final remains the Australian 200m record.

He also won five successive Australian 200m titles from 1966-70.

Athletics Australia chief executive Danny Corcoran said Norman had recently undergone a triple bypass operation.