Elite sprinters who raised a black gloved fist during the national anthem at the 1968 Olympics.

• A. Tommie Smith
• B. John Carlos
• C. Tommie Smith and John Carlos
• D. Michael Jordan

Answer: (C)

A powerful moment in sports and social justice is the Black Power salute carried out by two elite sprinters at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. On the medal stand after the 200 meters, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised black-gloved fists during the playing of the national anthem to protest racial injustice in the United States and around the world. This act turned a simple athletic competition into a global statement about civil rights, making the two athletes iconic symbols of athlete-led activism. Their gesture showed how competitors can use their platform to draw attention to important social issues, even at great personal cost. The option that lists Michael Jordan doesn’t fit because he did not participate in those Games and is known for basketball, not this 1968 sprinting protest. The correct answer names both sprinters together, capturing the full historical moment.