University City, Mexico

The book opens as Smith prepares to race at the University Olympic Stadium in University City, Mexico on October 16, 1968. These location names are written in Spanish in the book. This is the race Smith has been preparing for, and the authors describe this race in between stories of Smith’s life. As he begins the race, he is injured because he pulled a muscle in the semifinals, but he knows that he must start out strong and stay strong because this is the most important moment. He has received death threats because of this race. He progresses through this race throughout the book, ultimately breaking a record and winning the gold medal. He and John protest on the medal stand, holding their fists in the air defiantly rather than putting their hand on their heart. It is this podium stand that is depicted in art...