East Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame
Track and Field • 1967
John Carlos spent one season at East Texas State but made an immediate impact. He set five school records during the 1967 season and was the Lone Star Conference champion in four different events, helping lead the Lions to the LSC Championship. His school records in the 100-meters (10.2) and 200-meters (20.4) still hold after more than 50 years.
After leaving ETSU, Carlos gained worldwide fame by winning the bronze medal in the 200-meter dash at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. Carlos joined fellow American and gold medal winner Tommie Smith in a silent protest on the medal stand during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner, raising his fist in what was called by Smith a "human rights salute", protesting racial inequality. The photograph of the protest is one of the most iconic images in the history of sports.
Carlos went on to tie the world record in the 100-yard dash in 1969 before turning to football. He briefly played in the Canadian Football League before an injury ended his career. He was part of the United States Olympic Committee during the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and was inducted into the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2003. He continues to be an active voice for human rights across the world.
