John
Carlos

Olympian 1968

0
GOLD

0
SILVER

1
BRONZE

Athlete Bio#

Age

Education

Machine Trade and Medical High Schoolc Machine Trade and Medical High School

Quick Facts

Born in Harlem, New York
Went to Machine Trade and Medical High School
Received full scholarship to East Texas State University
ran track and field for ETSU, becoming school’s first Lone Star Conference Championship
Transferred to San Jose State University after one year at ETSU
Led SJSU to the NCAA Championships for the first time tying the 100-yard dash record with a time of 9.1 seconds
co-founded Olympic Project for Human Rights
Raised black-gloved fist at the Olympic Games Mexico City 1968 after winning the bronze medal in the 200-meter to symbolize African-American poverty in the United States
Selected in the 15th round for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles before suffering a knee injury
Elected to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2003
Awarded honorary doctorate degrees from California State University (2008), Texas A&M University-Commerce and San Jose State University (2012)
Accepted the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 2008 ESPY Awards and was recognized at the White House by President Barack Obama in 2016.

Olympic Experience

1-time Olympian; 1-time Olympic medalist (1 bronze)

Olympic Games Mexico City 1968, bronze (200m - Men)

Hall Of Fame Bio #

John Carlos received a full track and field scholarship to East Texas State University where he led the school to its first Lone State Conference Championship. Transferring to San Jose State University after one year at ETSU, he led the team to its first NCAA Championship, tying the 100-yard dash record with a time of 9.1 seconds. 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 activist today. The Harlem, New York, native was elected into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2003 for his leadership. 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.