John Wesley Carlos

Born in Harlem, New York, to Cuban parents, John Carlos was a talented high school athlete and an exceptional student.

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He went on to study at East Texas State University on a full track-and-field scholarship. His victories in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, as well as his contributions to the 4x400-meter relay, helped lead ETSU to the 1967 Lone Star Conference Championship. After his first year, Carlos transferred to San Jose State University, where he was coached by the future National Track & Field Hall of Fame coach Lloyd (Bud) Winter.

At the 1968 Olympic Trials, Carlos won the 200-meter dash in 19.92 seconds, beating world-record holder Tommie Smith and surpassing his record by 0.3 seconds. Although the record was never ratified because the spike formation on Carlos’ shoes (known as “brush spikes”) was not accepted at the time, this performance solidified his status as a world-class sprinter.