American athletes Larry James, Lee Evans (center) and Ron Freeman on the 400m podium at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. – Sipa
He was the first man to go below 44 seconds on the lap. And if his photo, with his fist raised, on the podium of the Olympic Games in Mexico, in 1968, is not as well known as that of Tommie Smith and John Carlos in black gloves, Lee Evans was also one of the figures of the fight against discrimination against African-American athletes. Evans, who suffered a stroke last week in Nigeria, has died aged 74, the American Athletics Federation said Thursday.
Olympic gold medalist, world record holder (400m), American Athletics Federation Hall of Fame member and human rights activist Lee Evans died on Wednesday at the age of 74 years old, ”the USATF posted on Instagram.
Evans was a sprinter who marked the lap, as he was the first to run under 44 seconds. In Mexico City, he broke the world record in the final in 43 sec 86/100, which was the benchmark mark until 1988.
The fist of anger
He almost did not take part in this race, shocked by the fate of his compatriots Tommie Smith and John Carlos, respectively first and third in the 200m, and excluded from the Games for raising their gloved fists on the podium. “After what Tommie and John did, there was a lot of commotion. We had meetings, and there was screaming, but it turns out we stuck to our positions, ”Evans said in 2017.
This resulted in another gesture, in solidarity with Smith and Carlos. With his compatriots, Larry James (2nd) and Ron Freeman (3rd), they in turn climbed on the podium, all three wearing the Black Panthers beret – which they removed for the anthem – and they too lifted their fist. Unlike Smith and Carlos, the three runners in the 400m were not excluded from the Olympic Village, although they too were severely criticized. And they were able to win a gold medal in the 4x400m relay, with Vincent Matthews as their last partner.
Sociologist Harry Edwards, co-founder of the Olympic Project for Human Rights organization, in which all these athletes participated, paid tribute to Lee Evans’ “fight for social justice”.
🙏🏾It is with profound sadness that I learned of passing of 2-time Olympic Champion & founding “Olympic Project For Human Rights“ member / advocate (2nd from left) LEE EVANS. His legacy of contributions to sports & the struggle for social justice is indelible and enduring-RIP🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/FEFAR1JMap
– Dr Harry Edwards (@drharryedwards) May 19, 2021
After his career, Evans led athletics programs for decades at the international level. Notably in Nigeria between 1975 and 1997. In 2002, he joined the University of Washington coaching staff and then held numerous coaching and advisory positions around the world.