Contact Sheet Print: Olympic Games. Mexico City, 1968 Raymond Depardon

Description

The 1968 Olympics took place in Mexico against a backdrop of political unrest. Raymond Depardon was present to capture the games, including the Black Power salutes famously given by some of America’s athletes in light of the ongoing Civil Rights struggles they faced. Pictured here in the centre, Lee Evans became the first man to crack 44 seconds in the 400m, winning the gold medal with a remarkable 43.86 second run. His victory came shortly after his teammates, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, were suspended from the US Olympic team for displaying Black Power salutes on the medals stand. In later interviews, Evans said that he was warned not to follow suit. Taking a different approach, he and his runners-up took to the medals stand wearing Black Panther-style berets and with raised fists but lowered their fists during the national anthem. Evan’s went on to play a heavy role within the Olympic Project for Human Rights.