Peter George Norman Visual & Performing Arts Essay (Essay Sample)

Domestic Violence
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Peter Norman
Peter George Norman, a talented Australian track athlete, was born and raised in a devout Salvation Army family in 1942. Norman’s first major win was in 1960 during the Victoria Junior Championship. Until his death in 2006, he was a five-time 200 meters national champion. He is however perhaps best known for his 20.6 seconds record during the 1968 summer Olympics in Mexico City. The win was Norman's best and is an Australian top that is yet to be broken. Before the 1968 Olympics, Norman worked as a trainer for the West Brunswick Australian rules football club to keep fit during the winter off-season period for athletes.
Other than setting an unbeaten Australian record in the 1968 Olympics, Norman is also well known for his bold role in the silent protest by fellow American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos. As the three athletes stood on the medal podium, Smith and Carlos lifted their hands wearing black gloves to symbolize the black power salute. Although Norman did not raise his hand, he wore an Olympic Project for Human rights badge on the podium in support of his colleagues who were furthering the racial equality agenda.