Tommie was the 200 meter champion in the 19th Olympiad in Mexico City with a time of 19.83 seconds, which was a world record until 1979 and an Olympic record until 1984.

With God-given talent, and encouragement to excel, Tommie Smith was propelled into human rights spokesman ship long before it became a popular cause.  His concern was for the plight of African Americans and others at home and abroad.  Cheered by some, jeered by others, and ignored by many more, Tommie Smith made a commitment to dedicate his life, even at great personal risk to champion the cause of African Americans sociologically, educationally, morally, athletically, financially, and spiritually.  To this day, since the “Stand for Victory”, Tommie Smith remains as committed and as dedicated to principles which are God-blessed.

He has been featured in such major national publications as Sports Illustrated, Sports Newsweek, Cleveland, Score, Ebony, and Track & Field News among others.  Innumerable newspapers and foreign magazines and audio/video media entities continue to seek him out for their features, training products and presentations.  He competed and continues to travel throughout various European and Asian nations, and conducts seminars, clinics and delivers speeches in those locations, as well as on domestic college campuses.