More than 40 years since John Carlos and Tommie Smith made their silent, closed glove, “Black Power” salute at the Mexico City Games in 1968, ESPN has produced a documentary about the act that reverberated throughout the Olympic community and the world–”Return to Mexico City,” which will air on February 15 at 4pm and several more times throughout February. The film talks with Carlos and Smith and reviews the turmoil that followed them after Mexico City.

The pair received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY Awards in 2008.

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Post from: EveryJoe

Olympics and Black History Month: Mexico City

Defending Olympic speedskating champion, Shani Davis showed that he’s still in top form at the World speedskating championship in Moscow on Saturday. The 26-year-old, 6′ 2″ skater took top honors in the 1000m event, the same race that earned him the Gold Medal in Turin in 2006.

Davis, a senior at Northern Michigan University, is currently ranked #1 in the world in the 1000m. He also competes in the 1500m and 5000m events.

Holland’s Simon Kuipers finished second in the Moscow race, with his countryman, Stefan Groothuis finishing third.

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Speedskater Davis Wins World Championship

Yes, it’s an “off-year” for the Olympics. Yes, it’s the middle of winter, but that doesn’t stop the sports bloggers around b5media from talking about your favorite Olympians. Here’s just a little bit of what they’ve been saying:

• At “Gossip on Sports,” Cherie begs journalists to stop using photos of Michael Phelps with his mouth open. She has a point.
• At “Hoops Fantasy,” Stephen shows us why LeBron James is better on the court than in the recording studio.
• At “Racket and Balls,” Julie tells us when we can watch Olympic tennis stars, Venus and Serena Williams (among other tennis greats) this year.
• At “Fantasy Kickoff,” Kori shares a great giveaway, just in time for Super Bowl parties.

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Post from: EveryJoe

Olympic News around the b5media Sports Channel

Jamaican Olympic sprinter and “fastest man on earth,” Usain Bolt picked up another honor this past weekend when he was named the “Caribbean Man of the Year” for 2008. Organizers cited the worldwide attention that Bolt brought to the islands after his victories in Beijing last August.

Bolt wowed Olympic viewers with his easy victories in the 100m and 200m events. He also helped the Jamaica relay team earn Gold in the 400m relay.

The “Caribbean Woman of the Year” honor went to pop singer, Rihanna, who hails from Barbados.

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Post from: EveryJoe

Another Award for Bolt

Saari, who become an attorney, real estate agent, and planning commissioner for his hometown of Mammoth Lake, California, was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1976. He is particularly noted for his unique kick and for being the first man to break the 17 minute barrier in the 1500m freestyle event. He is survived by his wife, two children, and several grandchildren.

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Former US Olympic Swimmer Dies

Paralympian, Chantal Petitclerc has competed in each Paralympic Games since Barcelona in 1992…and she has 21 medals–14 of them Gold–to show for it. The 39-year-old wheelchair racer from Quebec lost the use of her legs in a childhood accident, but that hasn’t stopped her from achieving her goals. This week, she was named “Canadian Athlete of the Year” by CBCSports, an honor that has previously gone to speedskater Cynthia Claussen.

Petitclerc also recently received the Lou Marsh Trophy, given each year to the outstanding Canadian athlete of the year by the Canadian Sports Journalists.

Petitclerc says she intends to retire from racing and is considering a career in television journalism.

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Post from: EveryJoe

Petitclerc Named CBCSports’ Canadian Athlete of the Year

Lopez Lomong, the United States flag bearer in the Beijing Games opening ceremony, joined a group of fellow Olympians and Paralympians in Colorado this holiday season to help build homes for Habitat for Humanity. Joining him were volleyball Silver Medalist, Nicole Davis; cyclist, Michael Blatchford; pentathlete, Eli Bremer, and eight other Olympic athletes and coaches.

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Post from: EveryJoe

Olympians for Humanity

The “London Times” is reporting this week that British cycling Olympian Chris Hoy has been recommended to receive an Order of the British Empire for his Olympic accomplishments. The 32-year-old Hoy is young for this honor, which is traditionally bestowed to individuals of near-retirement age.

Fellow Olympian, Rebecca Adlington, who earned two swimming Gold Medals this summer in Beijing, has also been recommended for the honor. She is just 19 years old.

Hoy earned three Gold Medals in track cycling this summer in Beijing. He adds those to the Gold Medal he received in Athens and the Silver Medal he earned in Athens. Hoy has said that he looks forward to defending his Medals in his home country in 2012.

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Post from: EveryJoe

Hoy Recommended for Knighthood

German Olympians Matthias Steiner (weighlifting) and Britta Steffen (swimming) were awarded their country’s Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards on December 21 at a banquet in Baden-Baden.

Steiner won the Gold Medal in Beijing this summer in the 105kg class. Steffen won Gold in Beijing in the 50m and 100m freestyle events.

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Steiner, Steffen Named German Sportsman and Woman of the Year

Presumably not content to hold the world records in the men’s 100m and 200m events, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt told the Associated Press this week that he is considering vying for the world record in the 400m, set by Michael Johnson at the 1999 World Championships in Seville, Spain. Said Bolt,

“There are no major championships in 2010, so I could go for the 400-meter record that year,” Bolt said in a BBC interview. “The training for 400 meters is so much harder, but I’m thinking about it.”

Bolt won three Gold Medals at the Beijing Games–in the 200m, 100m, and the 4×400m relay.

Post from: EveryJoe

Bolt Eyes 400m World Record