1968 Olympics Protester Tommie Smith Has Advice For Pro-Gay Athletes At Sochi

In 1968 American sprinter Tommie Smith(above center) was stripped of his gold medal after he and teammate John Carlos made the black power salute on the awards podium in Mexico City.  Smith says that pro-gay athletes at the Sochi Olympics should think carefully before they attempt any demonstration of their own.

“They (the IOC) counseled me into what I should or should not do. I did what I thought and I suffered the consequences,” Smith said. “It’s simple and clear: If the IOC says no and they do (protest) they suffer the consequences. One way or the other. The IOC is the grandmaster of the Olympic Games – not the athletes.” Smith suggested that athletes have a better chance of effecting change if they band together. “Masses change things. Individuals are destroyed. Like what happened to me,” he said. “The masses will change things. Otherwise we wouldn’t have presidents, we would have chaos.” And if they do decide to protest, Smith advises preparing a clear message. “Whatever language they speak, they should have their verbs, adverbs, adjectives and conjunctions together so people can understand exactly what they’re saying,” said Smith, who turned to coaching and teaching after his track career was derailed.

Smith made it clear that despite his advice, he’s not exactly a friend of the LGBT movement, saying, “Do I approve of it? I don’t believe so, because I believe in the Bible and it doesn’t really give leeway in this. But there are people who believe in it because that is their belief and I respect that belief.”