Former 400 meter World record holder Lee Evans dies aged 74

Lee Evans, who won the 400-meter goal medal in the racially charged 1968 Summer Olympics died May 19 at a hospital in Nigeria. He was 74 years old. Evans was a black American runner, who protested against racism during the medal presentation at the Mexico Olympics. He won the 400-meter goal medal with a world record timing of 43.86s. He was also a prominent human rights activist who spoke against racism and fought for equality. The 1968 Summer Olympics was marred by social unrest due to the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.

Evans had helped to organize a project for Human Rights, which included fellow Olympic medalist Tommie Smith and John Carlos. The project was started to draw attention to the inequalities faced by Black students and later grew into a movement that challenged the hidebound leadership of the Olympic Games.

Evans was the first athlete to break the 44s mark in the 400-meter as he won the gold at Mexico City with a record timing of 43.86s, that stood for 20-years. Evans was also part of the 1600m relay team that won the title with a record timing of 2 minutes and 56 seconds, which lasted for 24 years. The 400m event was swept by Americans as Larry James and Ron Freeman won the silver and bronze respectively.

All three medalist’s received their medals wearing berets showing solidarity to Tommie Smith and John Carlos. Smith and Carlos were sent home for raising their fists wearing black gloves during the award ceremony. Smith and Carlos had won the 200m gold medal and silver medal respectively.

Evans, at a news conference after the ceremony, said, “I feel I won this gold medal for Black people in the United States and Black people all over the world.”

After winning the 1600-meter relay, the American team consisting of-Evans, Freeman, James and Vince Matthews- didn’t stage any demonstration during the award ceremony, but Evans refused to shake hands with an Olympic official.

Evans coached track and field athletes in USA, Middle East and Africa. He was in Nigeria coaching high school track when he suffered the stroke last week. Evans was hospitalized after that. Later, he was inducted into United States National Track and Field Hall of Fame in Manhatten in 1983 and the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs in 1989.

Lee Edward Evans was born on February 25, 1947, in Madera, Calif. He was the oldest of seven children of Dayton and Pearlie Mae Evans. His father was a construction worker. The family moved to San Jose in 1962, that’s where his sporting career started.