1968 Summer Olympics
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The Games of the XIX Olympiad were held in Mexico City in 1968. Mexico City beat Detroit, Buenos Aires and Lyon to host the Games.
| Games of the XIX Olympiad | |
| Nations participating | 112 |
| Athletes participating | 5,530 (4,750 men, 780 women) |
| Events | 172 in 20 sports |
| Opening ceremonies | October 12, 1968 |
| Closing ceremonies | October 27, 1968 |
| Officially opened by | President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz |
| Athlete's Oath | Pablo Garrido |
| Judge's Oath: | - |
| Olympic Torch | Norma Enriqueta Basilio de Sotelo |
| Contents |
Highlights
- Because of the high altitude of Mexico City (2700 m), many endurance athletes have trouble coping with the thin air.
- For the first time, athletes from East and West Germany take part in separate teams, after having competed in a combined team up to 1964.
- US discus thrower Al Oerter, wins his fourth consecutive gold medal in the event to become only the second athlete to achieve this in an individual event.
- Bob Beamon jumps 8.90 m in the long jump, a 55 cm improvement of the World Record that would stand until 1991.
- In the triple jump, the previous world record was improved five times by three different athletes.
- Dick Fosbury wins the gold medal in the high jump using the radical Fosbury flop technique, which quickly became the dominant technique in the event.
- In the medal award ceremony, two African-American athletes Tommie Smith (gold) and John Carlos (bronze) raise their black-gloved fists as a symbol of Black Power. They are banned from the Olympic Games for life.
- Czechoslovakian gymnast Věra Čáslavská wins the hearts of the Mexican crowd and four gold medals.
- US swimmer Debbie Meyer became the first swimmer to win three individual gold medals, in the 200, 400 and 800 m freestyle events.
- The introduction of doping tests results in the first disqualification because of doping: Swedish pentathlete Hans-Gunnar Liljenwall is disqualified for alcohol use.
- John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania became internationally famous after finishing the marathon in last place despite a dislocated knee.
Medals awarded
See the medal winners, ordered by sport:
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Medal count
Top medal-collecting nations:
(for the full table, see 1968 Summer Olympics medal count)
| 1968 Summer Olympics medal count | | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | 45 | 28 | 34 | 107 | |
| 2 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 91 | |
| 3 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 25 | |
| 4 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 32 | |
| 5 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 25 | |
| 6 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 15 | |
| 7 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 13 | |
| 8 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 26 | |
| 9 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 17 | |
| 10 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 13 | |
See also
External links
| Olympic Games |
| Summer Olympic Games |
| 1896 | 1900 | 1904 | 1906* | 1908 | 1912 | 1916 | 1920 | 1924 | 1928 | 1932 | 1936 | 1940 | 1944 | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 |
| Winter Olympic Games |
| 1924 | 1928 | 1932 | 1936 | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1994 | 1998 | 2002 | 2006 | 2010 | 2014 | 2018 |
| *The 1906 Olympic were organised by the IOC, but are currently not officially recognised by the IOC. |
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