1968 Summer Olympics

Highlights

Because of the high altitude of Mexico City, many endurance athletes had 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.
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, black American athletes Tommy Smith and John Carlos raise their black-gloved fists as a symbol of "Black Power". They are expelled by the US National Olymic Committee.
Czechoslovakian gymnast Věra Č�slavsk� wins the hearts of the Mexican crowd and four gold medals.
American swimmer Debby Meyer wins 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.

See the medal winners, ordered by sport:

Pos Country Gold Silver Bronze Total

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 D�az Ordaz
Athlete's Oath	Pablo Garrido
Judge's Oath:	-
Olympic Torch	Norma Enriqueta Basilio de Sotelo