PART OF HISTORY: Peter Norman (left) alongside U.S. athletes Tommie Smith (centre) and John Carlos on the podium at the Mexico City Olympics on October 16, 1968. — File Photo: AP

MELBOURNE : Peter Norman, the Australian who stood alongside the U.S. athletes staging the civil rights protest from the medal podium at the 1968 Olympics, died on Tuesday of a heart attack. He was 64.

Athletics Australia chief executive Danny Corcoran announced Norman's death.

The medal presentation for the 200 metres in Mexico City was significant for the black power salute by American gold and bronze medallists Tommie Smith and John Carlos.

Standing shoeless, Smith and Carlos wore a black glove on their raised, clenched fists and bowed their heads on the podium while the national anthem was played to protest racial discrimination in the United States.

Norman, the silver medallist, wore a human rights badge on his shirt during the ceremony in support of the two Americans.

Smith, Carlos and Norman all received criticism and threats for their participation in the gesture, which was made late in 1968, after the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy.

``I was happy to identify with (Smith) and the principles he believed in,'' Norman was later quoted as saying.

The two Americans were sent home and Norman was cautioned by the then team chief Judy Patching, but allowed to remain in Mexico, the Australian Olympic Committee said in a statement. Despite the controversy, Corcoran said, Norman remained heavily involved in sports.

``In 2005, he was reunited with Smith and Carlos at San Jose State University for the unveiling of a statue commemorating the 1968 protest. Whilst only Smith and Carlos were recognized in bronze, as alumni of the university, Peter was, as always, happy to have played his role,'' Corcoran said in a statement.

``Peter will be remembered not only for his success as an athlete and his humanitarian gesture in Mexico City, but also for his service to athletics and the community and for his warmth and friendship.''

Norman was a five-time National champion in the 200 and his time of 20.06 seconds in Mexico City still stands as the Australian record.

Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates said Norman ``was clearly an athlete to whom social justice was important.''

Norman, according to the AOC, told reporters at the time, ``I believe in civil rights, every man is born equal and should be treated that way.'' — AP

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