1968 Mexico City Summer Games | U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum

Tommie Smith

Tommie Smith's courage to protest for racial equality continues to be remembered throughout the sports landscape.

John Carlos

John Carlos and Tommie Smith's protest for racial equality has echoed throughout the sports world since the Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games.

After narrowly missing qualifying for the Rome 1960 Olympic Games, Ron O'Brien became one of the sport's finest coaches. His divers won 154 gold, 90 silver and 78 bronze medals in major Olympic, world, national, NCAA and Big Ten Conference diving championships in his first 25 years of coaching.

Hank Iba

One of the greatest basketball coaches of all-time, Hank Iba guided the United States men's basketball teams to two Olympic gold medals and one silver.

Lones Wigger Jr.

Labeled the "greatest shooter in history," Lones Wigger Jr. won two gold medals and one silver over the course of three Olympic Games before becoming a director at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

Willye White

The first American woman to compete in five Olympic Games, Willye White won silver in long jump at the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games and the 4x100-meter relay at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games.

Wyomia Tyus

Wyomia Tyus won the 100-meter dash gold medal at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games. Four years later in Mexico City, she became the first person to repeat as Olympic gold medalist in the 100.

Bill Toomey

Despite a childhood injury that limited functionality in his right (throwing) hand, Bill Toomey set an Olympic record as he won a gold medal in the decathlon at the Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games.

Mark Spitz

After falling short of his goals at the Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games, Mark Spitz won seven gold medals in eight days at the Munich 1972 Olympic Games, setting a world record in each event he entered.

Don Schollander

Swimmer Don Schollander won four gold medals at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games, the most by an American in a single Olympics in 28 years. He won three more in the Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games.

Olympiad: 1968 Mexico City Summer Games