John Carlos, Tommie Smith and those raised fists in Mexico 1968: "Athletes cannot see inequality and continue with their own thing"

• Protest prohibited: the IOC will punish political gestures on the podiums of the Tokyo Games

"Closer, closer," asks a photographer, and John Carlos graciously replies, "Do you want me to kiss him? I can kiss him."

and

.

Tommy Smith and John Carlos.

At 78 and 77 years old, they both appear at Hayward Field in Eugene and the crowd surrounds them.

Many fans want a photo, but they are faster, although Carlos gets around with the help of a cane.

Only in the World Cup press room where they gather a small group of journalists do they agree to pose for the cameras, briefly, and to something else.

A young woman who assists them assures that there are many, many events in which they meet again.

The friendship between the two is manifest.

It is not for less.

His protest on the podium at the 1968 Mexico Olympics remains one of the most important moments in sports history.

At a crucial moment, shortly after the assassination of

, two black gloves, fist to heaven, Black Power.

On Carlos's neck, in fact, rests a pendant with a black cuff.

Is such a protest necessary today? (Smith) Of course.

There is still a long way to go to achieve equality, athletes must still stand up and say: "It is not enough".

Each athlete should reflect: How can I help?

How can I improve society?

They can't see inequality and get on with it.

John Carlos nods while his partner speaks and, as an example of what was said, he points to the Ukrainian athletes present at this World Cup.

A more or less small selection -23 athletes-, but that has already celebrated two medals:

's silver and

's bronze , both in the high jump.

And they still have some other option.

"I can see that fight in their spirit. They are going through a lot of difficulties, but they have not been knocked down. They are here to show the world that they have not been defeated," says Carlos.

Standing next to Smith in the stadium box, they both received a standing ovation from the crowd just before the 200m final.

Relaxed, enjoying themselves, they remembered their times and, briefly, what came after.

Because life was not easy for Smith and Carlos after the Olympic protest.

Both were disowned by the United States Olympic Committee and the American Athletics Federation, they received death threats, their families suffered a lot - Carlos's wife committed suicide, Smith divorced -, both failed in their attempt to be soccer players. American and had to wait for their country and the whole world to change to be considered.

Then, yes, tributes and more tributes, apologies and more apologies, but...

Were the apologies received for what happened after Mexico 1968 enough? (Smith) When the International Olympic Committee apologized a few years ago, for me, a septuagenarian, it did not mean much, but it was important for my 24-year-old self.

I had already turned the page, but I still dedicated it to that young man who went through what happened.

(Carlos) They kicked us out of the team, they took away our medal, they told us that what we had done was wrong.

An apology is not very important.

Especially when there are still regulations, such as rule 50 -which prohibits political demonstrations during the Games-, which punish protests like ours.

The International Olympic Committee must understand that athletes represent the society in which they live, in every way.

"See you, friend," Carlos says to Smith in the hallways of Hayward Field and they both say goodbye until the next act.

' victory

pleases Carlos, because the two have a relationship, they talk from time to time, but it is

who reminds him of himself, so tall, so stylish.

"I see it in the corner and I remember my races."

The United States reigns again in the 200 meters, as in its time, and who knows if in the future, perhaps at the Paris 2024 Games, one of its medalists will dare to raise their fist in the air, black glove, Black Power, to demand more equality.

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